Young Voter Polling 2026
Labour down 19 points among 18–34s since 2019. Greens at 22% with under-35s. Housing at 68% as their top concern. TikTok now the primary political news source for 18–24s. The generational vote split is one of the defining stories of British politics — but low turnout blunts its impact.
Labour’s Lost Generation — 2026
Labour won the 2019 general election’s 18–34 vote by a massive margin: 57% of young voters backed the party under Jeremy Corbyn. By May 2026, that figure has fallen to 38% — a 19-point collapse driven by disillusionment with the Starmer government’s decisions in office. The biggest gainers from Labour’s youth vote loss are the Greens (up to 22% among under-35s) and the Lib Dems (16%), not Reform UK (10%) or the Conservatives (9%). Young voters are not turning right — they are moving further left or towards third parties.
The key drivers of young voter defection from Labour are identifiable from polling: Labour’s position on Gaza (cited by 52% of young former Labour voters as a major factor), the party’s refusal to scrap the two-child benefit limit (40%), proposed PIP disability cuts (35%), and above all an absence of a credible housing policy for renters (61%). The Green Party has successfully positioned itself as the recipient of young voters’ protest vote, particularly in university cities — Bristol, Sheffield, Brighton, Canterbury — where Green MPs now represent constituencies once considered safe Labour territory.
Key young voter polling findings — 2026
- Labour at 38% among 18–34 — down from 57% in 2019 and 48% in 2024
- Greens at 22% among 18–34 (vs 15% nationally)
- Lib Dems at 16% among 18–34 (vs 13% nationally)
- Reform UK at 10% among 18–34 (vs 28% nationally)
- Conservatives at 9% among 18–34 (vs 19% nationally)
- 18–24 turnout: ~45% at 2024 GE vs 78% for over-65s
- 68% of under-35s cite housing as a major concern
- 61% cite climate change as a long-term priority
- 52% of young former Labour voters cite Gaza as a reason for switching
Voting Intention Among 18–34s: 2019–2026 Trend
| Party | 2019 GE | 2024 GE | May 2026 | Change ’19→’26 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Labour | 57% | 48% | 38% | -19 pts |
| Greens | 7% | 12% | 22% | +15 pts |
| Lib Dems | 14% | 15% | 16% | +2 pts |
| Reform UK | 0% | 7% | 10% | +10 pts |
| Conservatives | 18% | 14% | 9% | -9 pts |
| Other | 4% | 4% | 5% | +1 pt |
Source: YouGov, Survation, Ipsos age-group crossbreaks composite, May 2026. 18–34 cohort.
What Young Voters Care About — Top Issues 2026
% of 18–34s citing issue as “major concern”. YouGov/Ipsos composite, May 2026. Multiple responses permitted.
The Housing Crisis: Young Voters’ Defining Grievance
Labour’s planning reforms and 1.5 million homes target are broadly popular with young voters in principle — but 61% of under-35s say they have seen no improvement in local housing affordability since the July 2024 election. The Greens promise a “social housing revolution” and rent controls, which poll strongly with young urban renters. 54% of 18–34s support rent controls, compared to only 31% of over-55s.
Rent Controls: The Policy That Divides Generations
Rent controls are among the most age-polarised policy questions in British politics. Among 18–24 renters, nearly two-thirds back a government cap on annual rent increases. Opposition is heavily concentrated among homeowners and older private landlords.
| Group | Support rent cap | Oppose | Don’t know |
|---|---|---|---|
| 18–24 renters | 63% | 21% | 16% |
| 25–34 renters | 58% | 27% | 15% |
| 35–44 renters | 49% | 33% | 18% |
| All 18–34 | 54% | 29% | 17% |
| All adults | 43% | 38% | 19% |
| Over-55 homeowners | 25% | 62% | 13% |
YouGov/Survation composite, May 2026. Q: “Do you support or oppose a government cap on annual rent increases?”
Student Debt and Tuition Fees: 2026 Polling
Average student loan debt at graduation stands at £45,000, with most graduates not expected to repay in full under current terms. Labour’s refusal to scrap tuition fees — after Corbyn’s 2017 pledge became a major youth mobiliser — is cited by 40% of young former Labour voters as a source of disillusionment. YouGov polling in April 2026 found:
| Statement (18–34 cohort) | Agree | Disagree |
|---|---|---|
| Student loans create unfair life-long debt for graduates | 67% | 19% |
| The government should scrap or heavily reduce tuition fees | 61% | 23% |
| Labour should have abolished fees in its first budget | 58% | 24% |
| I feel my degree was “worth it” financially | 41% | 42% |
| Student loan repayment rules are fair as currently structured | 22% | 56% |
YouGov, April 2026. 18–34 cohort (graduates and non-graduates combined).
18–34 Voting Intention by Party
Voting intention among 18–34s. YouGov composite, May 2026. Compare: national average is Reform UK 28%, Labour 18%, Conservatives 19%.
Turnout by age: why the gap matters
- 18–24: ~45% turnout
- 25–34: ~52% turnout
- 35–44: ~58% turnout
- 45–54: ~65% turnout
- 55–64: ~72% turnout
- 65+: ~78% turnout
Over-65s are 22% of the electorate but cast around 30% of all votes. Under-25s are 10% of the electorate but cast only 6% of all votes — giving older voters 5× the effective electoral weight per head.
Young Voters by Sub-Age Group: 18–21 vs 22–27 vs 28–34
Not all “young voters” vote alike. The 18–21 cohort (post-Covid first-timers, highly online, many still students) differs meaningfully from 28–34 year olds (older Millennials facing housing costs as a daily financial reality). The pattern: younger cohorts lean more Green and protest-oriented; older young voters lean more pragmatically Labour or Lib Dem. Reform UK does notably better among young men in older sub-cohorts.
| Age band | Labour | Greens | Lib Dems | Reform | Conservatives | Key differentiator |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 18–21 | 33% | 27% | 14% | 9% | 8% | Highest Green share; most influenced by Gaza, climate, TikTok news |
| 22–27 | 37% | 22% | 16% | 10% | 8% | Post-Covid cost of living squeeze; student debt most salient |
| 28–34 | 41% | 18% | 17% | 11% | 10% | Housing costs a daily reality; highest electoral engagement |
| 35–44 | 30% | 13% | 16% | 18% | 14% | Shown for contrast: Labour bleeding to Reform at higher rates here |
| All 18–34 | 38% | 22% | 16% | 10% | 9% | Overall young voter composite |
| National (all) | 18% | 15% | 13% | 28% | 19% | National poll average for comparison |
YouGov/Survation composite, May 2026. Sub-age crossbreaks carry wider margins of error (±4–6pp) due to smaller sample sizes.
Leader Approval Ratings Among 18–34s — 2026
| Leader | Party | Approval (18–34) | National approval | Key driver |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Carla Denyer | Greens | +21% | +14% | Climate, Gaza, housing; Green surge concentrated in under-35s |
| Ed Davey | Lib Dems | +8% | +6% | NHS, student issues; Lib Dems strong in university towns |
| Kemi Badenoch | Conservatives | -18% | -22% | Culture war positioning alienates young voters; stronger with young men |
| Nigel Farage | Reform UK | -55% | -28% | Most toxic leader among under-35s; gender gap: -38% women vs -28% men |
| Keir Starmer | Labour | -42% | -38% | Gaza, welfare cuts, housing disappointment driving deep negative rating |
Net approval (approve minus disapprove) among 18–34s. YouGov / Ipsos composite, May 2026.
Where Young Voters Get Political News — 2026
Among 18–24s, traditional broadcast and print media has largely collapsed as a political news source. TikTok has overtaken BBC News online as the primary platform for political information. This shift has significant implications for how parties communicate — and for disinformation exposure.
% of 18–24s citing as “primary” or “regular” political news source. Ofcom/YouGov, April 2026. Multiple responses permitted.
Young Voter Trends by Region
The national 18–34 picture conceals major regional variation. London and university cities are dramatically greener and more left-leaning than the young voter average. Northern post-industrial towns show more Reform UK support among young men, while Scotland has an SNP-dominated youth vote.
| Region | Lab | Grn | Ref | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| London | 42% | 28% | 6% | Green surge in inner boroughs; Lib Dem 16% |
| South East | 35% | 24% | 11% | Lib Dem 19% — strong in university towns |
| North West | 40% | 19% | 13% | Manchester anchors Labour lead here |
| Yorks & Humber | 37% | 16% | 17% | Reform making inroads with young men |
| Midlands | 36% | 17% | 16% | Reform up among non-graduate young voters |
| Scotland | 28% | 14% | 5% | SNP 31% among 18–34s in Scotland |
| Wales | 38% | 18% | 12% | Plaid 11% among young Welsh voters |
18–34 voting intention by English region/nation. YouGov, May 2026. Regional crossbreaks ±5–8pp.
The Gender Gap Within the Youth Vote
Among 18–34 women: Labour 42%, Greens 27%, Lib Dems 18%, Reform 6%.
Among 18–34 men: Labour 34%, Greens 17%, Lib Dems 14%, Reform 16%, Conservatives 12%.
Young men are shifting rightward relative to young women — a pattern mirrored in Germany and the US.
Explore More
Pensioner Vote Polling
35% Reform UK among over-65s. 12% Labour. The other side of the generational split — and why low young turnout amplifies the grey vote at every election.
Housing Polling
68% of under-35s cite housing as their top concern. Full UK housing polling data — rent controls, planning, homeownership and Labour’s 1.5m homes target.
Climate Change Polling
61% of 18–34s prioritise climate. The second biggest issue for young voters and the Green Party’s key recruiting ground.
Green Party Polling
Greens at 22% among under-35s — their strongest demographic. How the Greens are converting Labour’s youth vote loss into parliamentary seats.
Labour Polling
Labour at 18% nationally, 38% among under-35s. How the Starmer government’s decisions have damaged its core youth coalition.
Class and Vote Polling
How education, housing tenure and occupational class interact with the generational voting divide. Graduate vs non-graduate Britain in 2026.
Who do young voters support in UK polls in 2026?
Among 18–34s in 2026, Labour leads at 38% but has fallen sharply from 57% in 2019. The Green Party polls at 22% among under-35s — its strongest demographic by far — and the Lib Dems at 16%. Reform UK polls just 10% among young voters, far below its 28% national average. Conservatives poll 9% among 18–34s. Young voters are not moving right: the defectors from Labour are overwhelmingly moving to the Greens and Lib Dems. Green Party polling →
Why are young voters leaving Labour?
Labour has lost approximately 19 percentage points among 18–34 voters since its 2019 peak. The key drivers from YouGov polling: Labour’s stance on Gaza (cited by 52% of young Labour defectors as a major factor), the refusal to scrap the two-child benefit limit (40%), proposed PIP disability cuts (35%), insufficient climate policy (33%), and no credible housing solution for renters (61%). The Green Party has gained most from Labour’s youth defections, particularly in university cities where Green MPs have already displaced Labour incumbents.
What issues matter most to young voters in the UK?
Housing is the single top issue for 18–34 voters in 2026, cited by 68% as a major concern. The average house price-to-income ratio nationally is 9:1 (14:1 in London), and 71% of under-35 renters say they may never own a home. Climate change and environment comes second at 61%, followed by cost of living (58%), NHS mental health services (52%), and student debt (47%). 54% of 18–34s support rent controls — compared to just 31% of over-55s. Housing polling →
How does turnout differ between young and old voters in the UK?
At the 2024 General Election, turnout among 18–24 year olds was approximately 45%, rising to 52% for 25–34s. Over-65s turned out at 78%. The result is that older voters have roughly 5× the effective electoral weight per head of the youngest cohort. A 10-point increase in 18–24 turnout would add roughly 450,000 votes — enough to shift outcomes in approximately 60 marginal seats. Pensioner vote polling →
Do young men and young women vote differently in the UK?
There is a notable gender divergence within the young voter cohort. Among 18–34 women, the Greens poll at 27% and Labour at 42% — a strongly left-progressive pattern. Among 18–34 men, Labour falls to 34% while Reform UK polls at 16% (vs 6% among young women) and the Conservatives at 12%. This mirrors patterns seen across the US and Germany: young men are measurably shifting right relative to young women, driven partly by social media algorithm dynamics and economic pessimism about job prospects and housing. Class and vote polling →
Could higher young voter turnout change the result of the 2029 election?
Modelling by YouGov suggests that if 18–34 turnout rose from 52% to 65% (matching current over-45 levels), Labour would gain approximately 25–35 additional seats at the expense of the Greens and Conservatives in marginal university cities. Reform UK would be largely unaffected, as its vote is concentrated in older demographics. Labour’s 2029 strategy includes online voter registration drives targeting under-30s — replicating the Corbyn 2017 surge in a post-social-media landscape where TikTok now reaches more young voters than BBC News. 2029 election polling →