Isabella Link is a Politics, Philosophy and Law undergraduate at the University of Warwick
Young women don’t vote Right anymore.
That’s a fact, and one that’s becoming increasingly difficult to deny. Among women aged 18 to 24, vote share for the Conservatives has collapsed into single figures, Reform UK remains marginal, and the Green Party have managed to capture by far the largest share. In comparison, Reform, and to a lesser extent, the Conservatives still capture notably more support from young male voters. So why exactly is it that right-wing parties cannot replicate this success with younger women, and how can this electorally damning issue be rectified?
Oddly enough, the answer to this question seems not to be found in policy, but instead in how party allegiance is socially perceived. To openly support the Greens as a young woman is seen as socially acceptable. As if one is choosing the moral and ethical stance.
But being an openly right-wing woman? That’s not so fashionable. Conforming to acceptable feminine politics means constantly reaffirming your support for Palestine, for transgender rights, for illegal immigrants to have their crimes overlooked, no matter what you truly believe. Express an opinion outside of the boundaries of acceptable, and you’ll get cancelled, alienated and attacked.
According to the supposedly progressive crowd, to be a woman with conservative beliefs is a form of betrayal to feminism, and to vote for a right-wing party is an act of misogynistic oppression. It’s all rather ironic, considering the Left can’t even define what a woman is.
Thus, women aren’t flocking to the Greens because they have brilliant policies, but instead because constant social pressure forces them to adopt such a position to remain politically virtuous. The Conservatives and Reform are portrayed as aggressors, poised to remove the rights and liberty of women, a narrative spread by influencers hoping to gain popularity with their righteous messaging.
This narrative, of course, is false. Over the last decade, it has been the Conservative Party that has championed campaigns to protect women and girls, creating legal protections against domestic abuse, sexual harassment and voyeuristic offences, whilst fighting for the right to single-sex spaces.
In comparison, the Greens want to legalise purchase and possession of GHB, commonly known as the date rape drug, for “recreational purposes.” Considering that the only “recreational” users of this drug are those who want to exploit vulnerable women, suddenly it seems that the Greens aren’t so feminist after all. In fact, the coercive undertones of their online propaganda subtly removes autonomy from young women to support whatever party they desire to, for fear of feminine excommunication.
Suppose the question then is why aren’t more young women aware that the Conservatives have a wealth of policies designed to better the lives of young women? Simply, it’s because the Conservatives haven’t managed to utilise the full potential of social media. Unfortunately, Reform have figured out how to exploit TikTok, Instagram and X to gain support, not just through the accounts of MPs and party HQ, but through an army of young Reform-aligned influencers, portraying Reform as the “cool” version of conservatism. These influencers range from young councillors equipped with just a phone and controversial views, to charismatic young men and glamorous, media-savvy women, prepped to convince the youth that Reform is simply the place to be.
In comparison, the Conservatives don’t have such a presence, which is where the cracks begin to appear. Younger voters aren’t willing to trawl through manifesto after manifesto, looking for a party which aligns the closest with their values, and so the few young women who are willing to break free of the “progressive” bloc are presented constantly online with information about Reform, and not the Conservatives.
In a society in which aesthetics continuously matter more, the visual appeal of a party is imperative to attracting younger voters, and that’s simply something that the Conservatives haven’t managed to perfect yet. Take for instance, the young women that Reform places at the forefront of their advertisement, such as Councillors Sienna Churcher, Charlotte Hill and Annie O’Neill. They’re well-spoken, photogenic and alter the narrative that Reform UK is purely a party full of older men. Although similar talent certainly exists in the Conservative party, they are far less visible online, thus fail to reach the same audience.
However, all hope isn’t lost, for a solution to this issue is clear and easily implemented. The Conservatives cannot rely purely on well-written policy to increase their share of young female votes, instead they must work to improve both culture and communication to adapt. Party-aligned influencers must be encouraged and supported, to challenge openly the social stigma associated with being a conservative woman, and demonstrate that Conservative policy holds the answers to fixing issues that truly matter to young women, such as safety, employment prospects, and protecting single-sex spaces.
If the Conservative Party wants to win back young female voters, it must demonstrate visibly that the party is willing to speak out for young women and make conservatism fashionable again. Kemi Badenoch’s leadership and transformation of the party has already done half of the work, and now all that is left to do is to exploit these vital avenues that prevent the Conservatives from reaching the audience they desperately need.
Social media is where political activity happens amongst the youth, and to ignore its power would be a fatal mistake.
Isabella Link is a Politics, Philosophy and Law undergraduate at the University of Warwick
Young women don’t vote Right anymore.
That’s a fact, and one that’s becoming increasingly difficult to deny. Among women aged 18 to 24, vote share for the Conservatives has collapsed into single figures, Reform UK remains marginal, and the Green Party have managed to capture by far the largest share. In comparison, Reform, and to a lesser extent, the Conservatives still capture notably more support from young male voters. So why exactly is it that right-wing parties cannot replicate this success with younger women, and how can this electorally damning issue be rectified?
Oddly enough, the answer to this question seems not to be found in policy, but instead in how party allegiance is socially perceived. To openly support the Greens as a young woman is seen as socially acceptable. As if one is choosing the moral and ethical stance.
But being an openly right-wing woman? That’s not so fashionable. Conforming to acceptable feminine politics means constantly reaffirming your support for Palestine, for transgender rights, for illegal immigrants to have their crimes overlooked, no matter what you truly believe. Express an opinion outside of the boundaries of acceptable, and you’ll get cancelled, alienated and attacked.
According to the supposedly progressive crowd, to be a woman with conservative beliefs is a form of betrayal to feminism, and to vote for a right-wing party is an act of misogynistic oppression. It’s all rather ironic, considering the Left can’t even define what a woman is.
Thus, women aren’t flocking to the Greens because they have brilliant policies, but instead because constant social pressure forces them to adopt such a position to remain politically virtuous. The Conservatives and Reform are portrayed as aggressors, poised to remove the rights and liberty of women, a narrative spread by influencers hoping to gain popularity with their righteous messaging.
This narrative, of course, is false. Over the last decade, it has been the Conservative Party that has championed campaigns to protect women and girls, creating legal protections against domestic abuse, sexual harassment and voyeuristic offences, whilst fighting for the right to single-sex spaces.
In comparison, the Greens want to legalise purchase and possession of GHB, commonly known as the date rape drug, for “recreational purposes.” Considering that the only “recreational” users of this drug are those who want to exploit vulnerable women, suddenly it seems that the Greens aren’t so feminist after all. In fact, the coercive undertones of their online propaganda subtly removes autonomy from young women to support whatever party they desire to, for fear of feminine excommunication.
Suppose the question then is why aren’t more young women aware that the Conservatives have a wealth of policies designed to better the lives of young women? Simply, it’s because the Conservatives haven’t managed to utilise the full potential of social media. Unfortunately, Reform have figured out how to exploit TikTok, Instagram and X to gain support, not just through the accounts of MPs and party HQ, but through an army of young Reform-aligned influencers, portraying Reform as the “cool” version of conservatism. These influencers range from young councillors equipped with just a phone and controversial views, to charismatic young men and glamorous, media-savvy women, prepped to convince the youth that Reform is simply the place to be.
In comparison, the Conservatives don’t have such a presence, which is where the cracks begin to appear. Younger voters aren’t willing to trawl through manifesto after manifesto, looking for a party which aligns the closest with their values, and so the few young women who are willing to break free of the “progressive” bloc are presented constantly online with information about Reform, and not the Conservatives.
In a society in which aesthetics continuously matter more, the visual appeal of a party is imperative to attracting younger voters, and that’s simply something that the Conservatives haven’t managed to perfect yet. Take for instance, the young women that Reform places at the forefront of their advertisement, such as Councillors Sienna Churcher, Charlotte Hill and Annie O’Neill. They’re well-spoken, photogenic and alter the narrative that Reform UK is purely a party full of older men. Although similar talent certainly exists in the Conservative party, they are far less visible online, thus fail to reach the same audience.
However, all hope isn’t lost, for a solution to this issue is clear and easily implemented. The Conservatives cannot rely purely on well-written policy to increase their share of young female votes, instead they must work to improve both culture and communication to adapt. Party-aligned influencers must be encouraged and supported, to challenge openly the social stigma associated with being a conservative woman, and demonstrate that Conservative policy holds the answers to fixing issues that truly matter to young women, such as safety, employment prospects, and protecting single-sex spaces.
If the Conservative Party wants to win back young female voters, it must demonstrate visibly that the party is willing to speak out for young women and make conservatism fashionable again. Kemi Badenoch’s leadership and transformation of the party has already done half of the work, and now all that is left to do is to exploit these vital avenues that prevent the Conservatives from reaching the audience they desperately need.
Social media is where political activity happens amongst the youth, and to ignore its power would be a fatal mistake.