A new study from the Institute for Public Policy Research (IPPR) has challenged the notion that young men in the UK are increasingly turning to rightwing politics. Analysis of data from the British Election Study, which surveys around 30,000 people annually, found that men aged 18 to 25 remain more progressive and less likely to vote for rightwing parties than any other age group of men.
While young men are less progressive than women of the same age, they have not shifted rightward more rapidly than other demographics. Dr Chris Bick, lead author of the report, stated: 'There is a sense that young men are shifting rapidly to the right, but we have not found much evidence for that at all. They remain the most progressive cohort of men across a raft of issues.'
The study found that support for conservative parties among young men rose from about 18% in 2022 to just under 30% in 2025, mirroring increases among older men. Support for Reform UK among young men increased by about 5 percentage points since the election, far less than among older age groups. On issues such as immigration, race, women's rights and homosexuality, young men are more progressive than older men.
However, a gender gap among young voters is emerging, driven more by young women moving left than young men moving right. Younger women are far more likely to support progressive policies, such as greater diversity in school curriculums and same-sex representation in children's television. Dr Bick noted: 'Young women are moving to the left more than young men are moving to the right.'
The IPPR analysts urged politicians not to write off young men as lost to misogynistic online influencers. Instead, they advised that engaging with this cohort is crucial for advancing progressive politics. 'If you are interested in advancing progressive politics, this is still a base of support for you,' Dr Bick added.
