Young Britons voice alarm over democracy and political divide
63% of young Britons believe that democracy is "in trouble", according to a new survey, the results of which are published by sources including Politico. Meanwhile, 27% of respondents indicated that they would prefer to live in a dictatorship rather than a democratic system.
- The survey conducted in February 2025 revealed that 63% of young Britons believe democracy is "in trouble".
- Division on political engagement: 35% of young people are considering personal involvement in politics, and 72% believe that British politics is "too divided".
- Racism and immigration: 73% of young Britons see racism as a significant problem, while 51% say immigration has changed communities for the better.
The survey, published on 31 March, indicates that young Britons are concerned about the state of democracy in their country. It was conducted on behalf of the John Smith Centre at the University of Glasgow for the U.K. Youth Poll 2025 study.
It shows that 63% of respondents aged 16-29 believe democracy is "in trouble". Furthermore, 72% of them claim that British politics has become "too divided".
Survey among young Britons. They assessed politicians
Although most young people prefer to live in a democracy rather than a dictatorship (57% to 27%), their political engagement is limited. Only 35% of them would consider becoming involved in organised politics.
Additionally, 36% of young Britons would like politicians to be "more open and honest", and 27% wish to see more young people in leadership positions. The same number of respondents would like the government to focus on issues that matter to them.
Among other topics, the issue of racism turned out to be "important" for 73% of respondents, though opinions on the impact of immigration on communities are divided. 51% believe immigration has changed communities for the better, while 32% hold the opposite view.
