The Gender Gap at a Glance
May 2026 voting intention by genderGender Gap Chart
Voting intention % by gender, May 2026Gender Breakdown Table
| Gender | Labour | Reform | Con | Lib Dem | Green | Leader |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Women | 21% | 22% | 19% | 13% | 18% | Reform (narrow) |
| Men | 15% | 34% | 19% | 12% | 12% | Reform (dominant) |
| Gender gap (M-W) | −6 | +12 | 0 | −1 | −6 | Reform biggest gap |
The Gender Chasm: Analysis
Reform UK: A Predominantly Male Party
Reform UK leads men at 34% — more than double the party’s share among women (22%). This 12-point gender gap is the most dramatic in UK polling. Labour’s collapse is even sharper among men: they score only 15% with male voters, compared to 21% among women. The Conservatives hold steady at 19% with both genders, suggesting their losses have been gender-neutral while Labour’s haemorrhage and Reform’s surge are highly gendered phenomena.
The Green-Reform Mirror
The Green Party’s 18% among women versus 12% among men is the mirror image of Reform’s gender gap. Women are six points more likely to back the Greens than men — reflecting differences in how the two genders weight climate policy and public services against immigration and national identity.
The Liberal Democrats show little gender variation (13% women, 12% men), suggesting their “Remain-professional” coalition draws relatively equally across gender lines. Labour’s gender gap (−6 points among men versus women) is significant and reflects the party’s particular difficulty communicating with working-class men who have drifted to Reform.
Electoral Implications
The gender chasm has significant electoral implications. Men and women turn out at broadly similar rates, but the magnitude of the Reform-versus-Green gender split means any seat where older men are over-represented tilts sharply toward Reform, while university towns and inner-city areas with younger women skew Green and Labour. Under First Past the Post, these geographic concentrations may amplify the gender effect considerably.
Related Demographic Breakdowns
Frequently Asked Questions
Is there a gender gap in UK politics?
Yes — one of the largest on record. Men back Reform UK at 34% while women back Reform at only 22%. The 12-point Reform gender gap, mirrored by a 6-point Green gender gap in the opposite direction, is the defining feature of the May 2026 political landscape.
Why do men favour Reform UK more than women?
Reform leads among men at 34% vs 22% among women. Research consistently shows men prioritise immigration and economic nationalism more strongly, while women more often weight public services and welfare — areas where Labour and Greens perform better.
Which party leads among women voters?
Reform UK leads narrowly among women on 22%, followed closely by Labour on 21% and the Conservatives on 19%. The Greens perform significantly better among women (18%) than men (12%), reflecting gender differences on climate and environmental priorities.