A third of young Britons would prefer authoritarianism over democracy in the UK, a new poll has found.
Support for authoritarianism is strongest among young Reform UK voters with half preferring a leader who could make decisions quickly ‘even at the cost of some democratic freedoms’.
There are ‘shocking levels of disillusionment’ among 18 to 30-year-olds with less than half expressing support for the current democratic system, according to the survey for the Adam Smith Institute.
The think tank said the findings show that many young people ‘no longer believe democracy is working’ and would prefer a system where leaders ‘can act without checks and balances’.
Researchers also warn that Labour’s plan to give the vote to 16-year-olds could backfire and ‘raises serious questions about whether younger voters support the system they’re being invited to join’.
The nationally representative poll of 1,338 18 to 30-year-olds – dubbed the ‘anxious generation’ – reveals ‘shocking levels of disillusionment with both political leaders and democratic institutions’.
A third of young Britons would prefer authoritarianism over democracy in the UK, a new poll for the Adam Smith Institute has found
Just 48 per cent of young Britons still prefer the current democratic system to an authoritarian alternative while 20 per cent remain undecided, the survey found.
Half of 18 to 30-year-olds who voted for Reform in 2024 would prefer an authoritarian system with only 33 per cent of young Reform voters preferring the current democratic system.
Disillusionment amongst young people is cross-party, the poll found, with 34 per cent of young Labour voters and 39 per cent of young Tories expressing support for an authoritarian system.
Among 18 to 30-year-olds, 59 per cent believe politicians are not addressing the issues that matter most to them, rising to 66 per cent among young Reform voters.
And white 18 to 30-year-olds show the highest levels of disillusionment with 62 per cent expressing dissatisfaction with politicians – almost double that of Black young people.
The polling shows that trust in democratic institutions ‘cannot be taken for granted’ as ‘more and more young people are questioning whether the current system can deliver stability or opportunity’, researchers said.
Support for authoritarianism is strongest among young Reform UK voters with half preferring a leader who could make decisions quickly ‘even at the cost of some democratic freedoms’, the poll found
James Cowling – managing director of campaign group Next Gen Tories, which seeks to increase the Conservative party’s ties with younger voters – said Westminster ‘should not be surprised’ that young people are being drawn to radical solutions given the state of the country.
He added: ‘This new polling shows us what history and global events can tell us time and time again.
‘Yet UK politicians continue to block the reforms that would genuinely improve young people’s lives; unlocking housing and infrastructure supply, lowering taxes on work, and making it easier to raise a family.
‘Delivering on these aspirations is the only real antidote to rising support for authoritarianism.’
Emma Schubart, data and insights manager at the Adam Smith Institute, said the rise in support for authoritarianism among young people ‘should ring alarm bells in Westminster’.
She added: ‘Young Britons are paying the price for years of economic mismanagement. And, with the prospect of starting a family or buying a home feeling increasingly out of reach, it’s no wonder many feel drawn to more extreme ideas.
‘As the Government moves to extend the franchise to 16-year-olds, urgent action is needed to restore faith in the system. As this data makes clear, democracy won’t defend itself. If we want young people to believe in it, then we need to make it work again.’
