More than half of 18-24 year-olds don’t know who they’ll vote for or won’t vote at all, according to the latest Times/Populus opinion poll.
Young people are less likely to vote following the party conference season according to the latest Times Populus poll. Having seen the underlying data, Left Foot Forward can reveal the number of 18-24 year-olds who won’t vote at all has increased ten percentage points from 25 per cent in mid-September to 35 per cent in October, while those unsure who to vote for has risen nine points to 19 per cent – a total of 54 per cent unaligned to any political party.
For all under-35s, the number planning to abstain is up five points to 28 per cent, with don’t knows also up five to 17 per cent. Support for the Conservatives amongst the 18-24 age group has fallen the sharpest of the two main parties, down six points to ten per cent, with Labour down three to 17 per cent. The Liberal Democrats, in line with their overall rating, stay around the 12-13 per cent mark.
The poll also shows far more 18-24 year-olds believe Labour not the Tories will spread the burden of public sector cuts more fairly compared to the population as a whole. Whereas Labour’s lead over the Opposition is seven per cent overall, it rises to 23 per cent among under-25s.
UPDATE 17.45
In response to a comment from Mike Smithson, we can confirm that at the 95 per cent confidence level, the sample size needed is 384 for a 5% confidence interval and 119 for a 10% confidence interval. The weighted base in the Populus poll for 18-24 year olds is 177 in September and 179 in October. For the combined 18-34 year olds figures it is 414 in September and 417 in October. We are therefore satisfied that the overall finding (i.e. that youth apathy has increased) is statistically significant.
To reach hundreds of thousands of new readers and to make the biggest impact we can in the next general election, we need to grow our donor base substantially.
That's why in 2024, we are seeking to generate 150 additional regular donors to support Left Foot Forward's work.
We still need another 124 people to donate to hit the target. You can help. Donate today.
8 Responses to “Youth apathy soars in wake of party conferences”
willstraw
Thanks for these comments. We are satisfied that the findings are statistically significant as per the update note above.
SOCIALIST UNITY » AROUND THE BLOGS
[…] place on the blogging left, including this really interesting report that young voters recorded a ten percent swing towards abstention over the Party Conferences season. Among 18 to 24 year olds Labour has the highest support of the […]
Socialism 2009: Saturday sessions and the fightback against Cameron « Though Cowards Flinch
[…] made at the meeting was the catastrophic collapse of Labour’s link with young people, which Left Foot Forward ran an article on not too long ago. The post-war working class may still vote Labour, but the […]