We're delighted to announce the launch of the John Smith Centre's second course for @glasgow.ac.uk students! 🎉 Find out more about the new Curriculum for Life course, including eligibility criteria, via the link below ⬇️ @uofgsocsci.bsky.social

Not Just Politics as Usual Course - John Smith Centre

Not Just Politics as Usual The John Smith Centre guide to making change Course at Not just politics as usual offers students from across the University of Glasgow a unique opportunity to hear from…

johnsmithcentre.com

Join us to hear Gordon Brown discuss his new book The Future Starts With Us with John Smith Centre Director Eddie Barnes at @glasgow.ac.uk. 📅 Wednesday 2 September, 7.00pm-9.00pm 📍 Saltire Lecture Theatre, James McCune Smith Learning Hub 🎟️ Tickets: www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/gordon-bro...

📊 The #UKYouthPoll2026 shows that young people remain optimistic about their own lives, but are increasingly anxious about the direction of the country. In today's blog, our chair @andersoniain.bsky.social sets out what the new PM needs to do to address young people's concerns & rebuild trust 👇

OUR NEW PRIME MINISTER HAS THE CHANCE TO CREATE A NEW CONTRACT WITH BRITAIN'S YOUNG PEOPLE - John Smith Centre

By Iain Anderson, chair of the John Smith Centre The first weeks of any new premiership are filled with expectation. Never more so than now. For our new Prime Minister, there is now a real opportunity...

johnsmithcentre.com

"Young adults are locked out from the future they’re ready to shape" Great to see findings from @johnsmithcentre.com UK Youth Poll mentioned in this @prospectmagazine.co.uk feature about young people's prospects and happiness in the UK. www.prospectmagazine.co.uk/politics/741...

Britain’s next generation is all grown up

Alienated, ignored—and stuck at home with mum and dad. Young adults are locked out from the future they’re ready to shape

prospectmagazine.co.uk

📢 New blog alert! Following on from a presentation delivered at The British Academy's Ideas Festival in June, Joe Greenwood-Hau's latest blog looks at young people's perceptions of privilege and politics, and how these impact their engagement in politics. #UKYouthPoll2026 @uofgsocsci.bsky.social

YOUNG AND MARGINALISED? VIEWS OF PRIVILEGE AND POLITICS AMONG 16-29-YEAR-OLDS IN THE UK - John Smith Centre

There is widespread recognition that the image of politics as dominated by middle-aged, middle-class, privately- and university-educated white men (with degrees in phisolophy, politics, and economics,...

johnsmithcentre.com

The #UKYouthPoll2026 shows that support for intervention outweighs support for isolationism when it comes to young people's views on UK foreign policy 🌍 Read our latest blog by Charlotte Caddy to find out more 👇 #UKYouthPoll @uofgsocsci.bsky.social @uofgsps.bsky.social

INTERNATIONALISM, NOT ISOLATIONISM: YOUNG PEOPLE'S PERSPECTIVES ON UK FOREIGN POLICY - John Smith Centre

UK Youth Poll 2026 shows that support for intervention outweighs support for isolationism among young Britons. Isolationist perspectives are becoming increasingly prominent in the foreign policy narra...

johnsmithcentre.com

Young people in the UK are often described as politically disengaged – but are we seeing the full picture? 🤔 Read @glasgow.ac.uk student Ostap Zaiats' recent blog to find out what our #UKYouthPoll2026 reveals about youth engagement in politics 👇 @uofgsocsci.bsky.social @uofgsps.bsky.social

ARE YOUNG PEOPLE ACTUALLY POLITICALLY APATHETIC, OR SIMPLY UNHEARD? WHAT THE UK YOUTH POLL REVEALS ABOUT YOUTH ENGAGEMENT - John Smith Centre

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...

johnsmithcentre.com

📊 Our #UKYouthPoll2026 student blog series continues today with a new piece written by Lillie Parker! Read Lillie's blog to discover what the poll reveals about young people's ideas of what it means to be British – some of the findings may surprise you 🤔 #UKYouthPoll @uofgsocsci.bsky.social

MAJORITY OF 25- TO 29-YEAR-OLDS SAY BRITISH ANCESTRY MATTERS - John Smith Centre

It is often said that young people reject traditional ideas of Britishness. Recent findings complicate this. The John Smith Centre’s UK Youth Poll 2026 asked about the importance of British ancestry…

johnsmithcentre.com

📢 EVENT ANNOUNCEMENT! We're teaming up with @parliament.scot's Festival of Politics again for a panel discussion on when free speech becomes hate speech, chaired by @eddiebarnes.bsky.social 🎤 📅 28 August 2026 📍 Scottish Parliament, Edinburgh 🎟️ Available via the link below @uofgsocsci.bsky.social

When does free speech become hate speech? - Buy tickets

Freedom of expression, even if some find certain views offensive, is lauded as one of the most important civil liberties. When does free speech become hate speech and what part does social media play?

festivalofpolitics.citizenticket.co.uk

📱 Yesterday, the Prime Minister announced plans to ban social media for under-16s in the UK. Read our latest research blog by @uofglasgow student Isaac McCrory to discover the nuanced views of young people on social media bans & online misinformation 👇 #UKYouthPoll2026 @uofgsocsci.bsky.social

YOUNG PEOPLE ON SOCIAL MEDIA: TO BAN OR NOT TO BAN? - John Smith Centre

The John Smith Centre’s UK Youth Poll 2026 shows young people occupy an online media landscape they don’t fully trust. Social media is here to stay, and we’re better off fixing it than binning it.…

johnsmithcentre.com

🚨 The #UKYouthPoll2026 found that only 36% of 16-29-year-olds in the UK believe they will be better off than their parents – a dramatic collapse from 63% in 2025. Read Dr Joe Greenwood-Hau's new blog to find out what is driving this decline 👇 #UKYouthPoll #GenZ @uofgsocsci.bsky.social

A CRISIS IN THE MAKING: WHY SO MANY YOUNG PEOPLE THINK THEIR LIVES WILL BE WORSE THAN THEIR PARENTS’ - John Smith Centre

One of the most striking findings of the UK Youth Poll 2026 was the fall in the number of young people who think their lives will eventually be better than their parents’. In 2025, 63% thought that…

johnsmithcentre.com

📊 The #UKYouthPoll2026 was shaped by @glasgow.ac.uk students, who chose its themes and wrote many of the survey questions. 📹️ Watch the video below to hear some of the key findings directly from them! Full findings 👉️ ukyouthpoll.com #UKYouthPoll @uofgsocsci.bsky.social @uofgsps.bsky.social

Yesterday, the John Smith Centre brought 70 S5 and S6 pupils from schools across the West of Scotland to @glasgow.ac.uk to take part in a mock election campaign 🗳️ It was fantastic to see a room full of young people engaging so enthusiastically in politics! 🌟 @uofgsocsci.bsky.social

🟢 The #UKYouthPoll2026 found that most young people would vote Green in a General Election, with 23% against Labour's 16% and Reform's 14%. Read Youth Poll project student Abheer Kukreja's blog to learn what the poll can tell us about why this is 👇 #UKYouthPoll #GreenParty @uofgsocsci.bsky.social

WHY ARE YOUNG BRITONS GOING GREEN? - John Smith Centre

The John Smith Centre UK Youth Poll 2026 delivers a result that should surprise anyone who thinks they understand British youth politics. The Green Party is now the single most popular party among…

johnsmithcentre.com

📊 Our series of blogs by Youth Poll Project students at @glasgow.ac.uk continues today! 📱 Read Ellie Craig's blog to find out what young people REALLY think about a social media ban for under-16s. #UKYouthPoll2026 #GenZ @uofgsocsci.bsky.social @uofgsps.bsky.social

IS A BAN ON SOCIAL MEDIA THE ANSWER TO TACKLING ONLINE HARMS? WHAT YOUNG PEOPLE REALLY THINK - John Smith Centre

The UK Youth Poll 2026 shows that most young people support banning social media for under-16s, but this support varies significantly by age and that attitudes are shifting. Perhaps unsurprisingly,…

johnsmithcentre.com

And young people are even more pessimistic. The John Smith Centre’s #UKYouthPoll2026 showed that only 36% of 16-29-year-olds think a degree is worth the cost, whilst 48% think it’s not 🎓 📊 Read the full UK Youth Poll 2026 report on our website: ukyouthpoll.com #UKYouthPoll #GenZ

Student loan inquiry begins as a third of people say university degree not worth it

MPs will hear the concerns of graduates about the size of their student debts, and the interest rates.

bbc.co.uk

Why does only Britain stand on the brink of a populist-right majority? 🤔 📰 In our latest research blog, Stuart Donald summarises his research for @compassoffice.bsky.social into the links between #FirstPastThePost and growing inequality and support for right-wing populism in Britain. Read below 👇

WHY DOES ONLY BRITAIN STAND ON THE BRINK OF A POPULIST-RIGHT MAJORITY? - John Smith Centre

Across north-western Europe, populist-right parties have surged in popularity. In some cases, they have entered government including Sweden, Finland, Austria and the Netherlands. Yet in none of these ...

johnsmithcentre.com

Our #UKYouthPoll2026 found that young people increasingly feel that the cards are stacked against their generation – only 25% believe that they are treated fairly compared with older generations ⚖️ Read the report to find out more: 🔗 www.ukyouthpoll.com #UKYouthPoll #GenZ @uofgsocsci.bsky.social

We were delighted to host an event with Prosper at @uofgasbs.bsky.social today that brought together companies to discuss how we can help get young people into careers in public life and politics 🌟 A big thank you to our speakers and to all those who attended! 🙌 @uofgsocsci.bsky.social

📢 New research blog alert! 📊 In the first of a series of blogs written by @glasgow.ac.uk students who took our Youth Poll Project course and set the agenda for the #UKYouthPoll2026, Max Liu explores what the findings can tell us about why young people are turning towards insurgent parties.

CAN YOU REALLY BLAME US? WHY YOUNG PEOPLE ARE ABANDONING THE POLITICAL MAINSTREAM - John Smith Centre

The UK Youth Poll 2026 reveals that young people aren’t switching off from politics — but when the system makes meaningful participation nearly impossible, voting for insurgent parties is becoming the...

johnsmithcentre.com

🚨 Alan Milburn's 'Young people and work' report published today warns that Britain is breeding a "lost generation". 📰 Eddie Barnes' latest blog reflects on the findings and calls for policies that put the needs of young people first – read it below 👇 @uofgsocsci.bsky.social @uofgsps.bsky.social

MILBURN'S WAKE-UP CALL TO BACK BRITAIN'S YOUNG - John Smith Centre

By Eddie Barnes The warning by former Labour Health Minister Alan Milburn today that Britain is breeding a “lost generation” of young people is absolutely correct. By the end of this decade, according...

johnsmithcentre.com

💡 A key finding from the #UKYouthPoll2026 is that AI is viewed by young people with a mix of apprehension & cautious optimism. 💼 Their biggest fear is its impact on jobs, while its biggest perceived benefit is its potential to support education. Find out more: ukyouthpoll.com #UKYouthPoll #GenZ

Join us on 4 June for a special fireside chat with Professor Michael Spence as we celebrate his honorary degree. Featuring insights from ASBS’s new Head of School, Professor Wendy Loretto, on his remarkable life and career. Register: tinyurl.com/yhe84mcs

🚨 The #UKYouthPoll2026 has entered the Labour leadership debate today. 📻 This morning, former Health Secretary Wes Streeting spoke to the Today programme and used two of the poll’s findings to frame his pitch to the country. Find out more below 👇 @uofgsocsci.bsky.social @uofgsps.bsky.social

UK YOUTH POLL HITS LABOUR LEADERSHIP DEBATE - John Smith Centre

By Eddie Barnes There isn’t a vacancy yet but the phoney war to become the UK’s next Prime Minister is well underway. And the John Smith Centre’s UK Youth Poll 2026, published last month, has entered ...

johnsmithcentre.com

📰 John Smith Centre Centre Director @eddiebarnes.bsky.social and Lecturer Dr Joe Greenwood-Hau have contributed to this newly published analysis of the Scottish election. Read the report here! 🔗 www.electionanalysis.uk/scottish-ele...

University of Glasgow@glasgow.ac.uk · 3mo ago

An analysis led by @uofgsps.bsky.social and funded by @polstudiesassoc.bsky.social gives fresh insights into the 2026 Scottish Parliament election. The Scottish Election Analysis features a wide variety of topics by leading scholars. gla.ac/4dtOwzt

📊 The #UKYouthPoll2026 asked 16–29-year-olds what stops them from being more active in politics and community affairs. The most common answer? That they simply don't trust politicians (30%). ‼️Young people demand and deserve a more honest politics. 🔗 Explore more insights at www.ukyouthpoll.com

📢 New research blog alert! Read final-year @glasgow.ac.uk student Isaac McCrory's blog drawing on his dissertation research to find out how media and political identities intersect for young people who self-identify as right wing 📱 #SocialMedia #GenZ @uofgsocsci.bsky.social @uofgsps.bsky.social

ARE YOUNG PEOPLE RADICALISED TO THE RIGHT BY SOCIAL MEDIA? - John Smith Centre

For years, we’ve understood media bias and its role in politics. At the intersection of new media and political landscapes, research shows digital media’s covert re-affirmation of young people’s…

johnsmithcentre.com

🚨 ICYMI – Dr Elisabeth Loose reflects on what the #UKYouthPoll2026 findings mean for young people's (non-)involvement in our public square in our latest blog. 🔗 Read it here: www.johnsmithcentre.com/news/researc... #UKYouthPoll #GenZ @uofgsocsci.bsky.social @focaldata.bsky.social #Nationwide

ECONOMIC INSECURITY IS HOLLOWING OUT OUR CIVIC LIFE - John Smith Centre

Almost a year ago, former Prime Minister Gordon Brown used the inaugural John Smith Memorial Lecture to warn that our civic infrastructure was breaking down partly due to economic decline over the pas...

johnsmithcentre.com

💷 When asked about their biggest concerns, 45% of young people surveyed in the #UKYouthPoll2026 chose 'financial worries'. Compared to last year, young people are becoming more worried about their financial futures. 📊 Full report available at www.ukyouthpoll.com @uofgsocsci.bsky.social

The #UKYouthPoll2026 found that 50% of young people would never take up arms for Britain, and only 38% would do so under some circumstances 📊 Read the full report for further insights: 🔗 www.ukyouthpoll.com @uofgsocsci.bsky.social @focaldata.bsky.social #Nationwide