Young people in the UK are often described as politically disengaged because they are less likely to join traditional political parties or vote as consistently as older generations do. However, the UK Youth Poll 2026 presents a more complicated picture. Rather than withdrawing from politics, many young people seem increasingly dissatisfied with how politics currently works and doubtful that mainstream parties care about them at all, but they still engage through non-conventional forms of participation.
The poll shows that young people are worried about the current state of politics in the UK. 56% say that democracy in the UK is in trouble, and 53% think that politics has become too divisive. The results also suggest that 46% believe that young people do not get a fair hearing in UK politics, while the same proportion think they are treated less fairly than older generations.
However, 56% of all responses say they would prefer to live in a democracy rather than a dictatorship, suggesting that the support for dictatorship is a small minority view, and that many young people support democracy in principle even if they are dissatisfied with how it works.
Besides, 53% also believe that their vote can shape the future of the UK. While young people may be critical of how British politics functions, they still believe that participation matters.
Many young people increasingly participate through non-conventional channels. A third of respondents (33%) say they have signed a petition in the last year, while 27% have used social media to advocate for an issue, and 26% have tried to change someone’s mind about a political or social question. Another 20% have volunteered in their local community, and 20% have bought, or refused to buy, products for political or ethical reasons. Although 27% report doing none of these activities, the broader pattern still indicates meaningful levels of participation.
Judging participation only by elections and party membership risks understating the extent of youth engagement. Once other forms of participation are considered, it becomes clear that many young people are politically active, but in ways that are more flexible and less traditional. This may partly reflect the distinct informational, economic and cultural environment in which the younger generation operates, where digital media has reshaped rather than weakened the forms of political participation.
The poll also shows dissatisfaction with traditional parties. 50% of respondents said they would support an independent candidate over mainstream parties. This suggests that many young people are open to alternatives. The Green Party receives the warmest response, with 27% of respondents expressing a warm view and 15% a cold one. Your Party performs similarly, attracting 26% warm responses and only 10% cold ones.
The results also cast doubt on claims that Reform UK is especially popular among young people. Overall, the party is viewed negatively by 43% of respondents, while only 16% express a warm opinion. Traditional parties, such as Labour, receive a more mixed response, with 19% warm and 26% cold, while the Conservatives receive only 11% warm and 36% cold responses. However, the general trend is that no party is felt warmly towards by much more than a quarter of respondents.
This suggests that many young people are not withdrawing from politics, but they rather appear to be searching for forms of representation they see as more credible, more responsive, or more reflective of their concerns.
The UK Youth Poll also offers some indication of why this trend may be taking place. 30% say they do not trust politicians, while 27% say politicians do not listen to young people. A further 22% describe politics as too overwhelming, while 19% say it is too complicated, and another 19% say it is too difficult to make political change.
The main problem is not political apathy among young people, but a sense of distance from a system seen as unresponsive and difficult to change.
The UK Youth Poll 2026 challenges the idea that young people are politically disengaged. Many still value democracy, believe voting can matter, and are politically active. Contrary to popular claims, the key issue is not disengagement, but that many young people feel traditional politics does not listen to or represent them sufficiently.
Rebuilding trust will require parties and political institutions to listen more carefully, engage more, and demonstrate that young people’s concerns can lead to meaningful political change.
Ostap Zaiats is a final-year student of Politics and Social & Public Policy at University of Glasgow, with an interest in democratic participation, European politics, and economic development.
