London, December 08, 2025
New polling data from the UK reveals a complex picture of youth political engagement ahead of the next general election, highlighting the Green Party’s growing influence among young voters, while the Reform party’s youth appeal appears overstated despite extensive media coverage. This development takes place amid the imminent extension of voting rights to 16- and 17-year-olds.
Reform Party’s Youth Support Overstated
The narrative that Reform is rapidly gaining traction among the UK’s younger voters contrasts sharply with recent research. According to data from the University of Exeter, only 6% of voters under 30 supported Reform in the 2024 General Election, which is markedly lower than Labour’s 42%. Both the Greens and Liberal Democrats each secured 15% support in the same age group. Despite a robust social media campaign targeting youth with short-form videos and populist messaging, Reform’s actual voter base remains predominantly older, especially those aged 55 to 70. Their youth relative performance score of 59% indicates some engagement with younger voters, but historical comparisons show this is comparable to UKIP’s 62% score in 2015, suggesting no unprecedented youth shift to Reform.
The Green Party’s Authentic Youth Surge
The more significant youth opportunity lies with the Green Party, which is experiencing historic polling highs nationally at around 10%. More notably, Greens enjoy approximately 23% support levels among 18-24-year-olds, underscoring a genuine youth-driven surge. This is particularly pronounced among young women, positioning the Greens at the forefront of populist left politics within the younger demographic. The Young Greens recently attained the status of the largest youth and student wing affiliated with any British political party. Since the last general election, Labour’s once dominant youth vote share has diminished, creating a competitive three-way race between Labour, the Greens, and Liberal Democrats among younger voters.
Impact of Extended Voting Rights for 16- and 17-year-olds
A critical upcoming factor is the extension of voting rights to 16- and 17-year-olds at the next general election. While this expands the youth electorate, it presents a challenge as many of these new voters feel unprepared for voting. Surveys reveal that 31% of this cohort do not know which party to support. Furthermore, 49% place greater trust in social media as a source of reliable political information than traditional media outlets. Preference polling for this youngest group shows Labour leading at 16%, followed by Reform at 11%, and the Greens at 9%. This distribution indicates that merely extending the franchise will not automatically translate into solid youth support for any single party without enhanced civic education and engagement efforts.
Youth Voters’ Preparedness and Information Trust
The data highlights a notable lack of political preparedness among new young voters. Their dependence on social media for information raises concerns about the quality and reliability of political knowledge they access. Nearly one-third of surveyed 16-17-year-olds remain undecided, emphasizing the need for political parties and educators to invest in voter education that equips this demographic to make informed decisions. This gap in preparedness could impact turnout and voting patterns significantly.
Implications for Political Parties and Policymakers
The “raw deal” narrative reflecting young people’s concerns over housing, climate change, and economic opportunity is energizing youth political engagement across the UK. However, the beneficiary of this sentiment is predominantly the Green Party, not Reform. Political strategies focused on genuine engagement and addressing youth-specific issues appear critical to capturing this demographic. As the voting franchise broadens, the ability of parties to communicate effectively with and educate young voters will be decisive in shaping electoral outcomes. Beyond political maneuvering, this trend underscores a broader societal imperative to provide youth with tools to navigate civic responsibilities in a rapidly changing political landscape.