What the numbers actually tell us
Academics from five top universities dug into the British Election Study and uncovered a striking pattern: the gender gap didn’t just stay steady—it stretched to the far ends of the political map. Young men were almost twice as likely as young women to back Reform UK, the party that sits on the right‑hand side of the spectrum. At the same time, young women were roughly three‑quarters more likely than their male peers to vote Green.
Here’s the raw picture for the 18‑24 age group: 19.7% of women chose the Green Party versus 13.1% of men. On the opposite side, 12.9% of men gave their vote to Reform UK, while only 5.9% of women did. Those percentages translate into a clear generational split that mirrors broader societal attitudes about the environment, economic policy, and national identity.
Why the gap matters beyond the headlines
Professor Rosie Campbell, who led the research team, points out that the gap at the extremes tells us more than a simple “men like conservatives, women like liberals” story. It shows how specific issues—climate urgency for many women, and immigration or law‑and‑order concerns for many men—are pulling voters toward niche parties that sit at opposite poles.
The study also examined older age brackets. Although the gap shrinks with age, the same direction holds: women modestly edge toward Labour, the Liberal Democrats, and the Greens, while men tilt toward the Conservatives and Reform UK. What’s surprising is that the usual Labour‑Conservative gender split, which used to be a headline‑grabber, faded this time. Both parties lost ground, with Labour gaining modest support across the board and the Conservatives slipping among both sexes.
These shifts have practical consequences. A deeper gender divide at the extremes could force larger parties to rethink policy messaging. If the Greens want to keep attracting women, they might double down on climate justice and social equity. If Reform UK hopes to broaden its appeal, it may need to address issues that resonate with women, such as healthcare or education, without alienating its core base.
For political strategists, the data suggests three take‑aways:
- Targeted outreach matters: Youth engagement campaigns need to speak directly to the concerns that drive each gender’s party preference.
- Coalition potential: Smaller parties could become kingmakers if larger ones fail to capture the gender‑specific vote.
- Policy framing: Framing economic or security policies in ways that appeal across gender lines might soften the extremes.
Beyond just numbers, the research adds to a growing body of work on gendered political behavior. It confirms that British voters are no longer neatly divided into a simple left‑right gender binary; instead, nuanced issues are pulling them toward very different corners of the political spectrum.
As the next election looms, observers will be watching whether this pattern holds, deepens, or reverses. Will the Green Party see a surge among young women, or will Reform UK manage to break into the female vote? The answer will shape everything from campaign ads to parliamentary debates in the years to come.
