Research suggests misunderstanding of rival views by ‘progressive activists’ contributes to political polarisation

A recent study has uncovered that leftwing activists in the UK are more resistant to working with political rivals than other groups and tend to view those with opposing views as misinformed. According to the research by polling group More in Common, 8-10% of the population, labelled as “progressive activists”, hold significantly different opinions on various political issues compared to the broader public.

The study also highlights a tendency among progressive activists to be more critical of those who disagree with them, a behaviour that the authors argue has led to repeated setbacks in progressive movements and facilitated the rise of the far right on a global scale.

Luke Tryl, executive director at More in Common and co-author of the study, explained: “While progressive activists have historically been at the forefront of social change in the UK, their political stance and methods make them outliers in relation to the wider public. A failure to engage meaningfully with differing opinions and a tendency to impose ideological purity tests may be driving a backlash against progressive causes.”

The study found that progressive activists, a group that tends to be young, highly educated, and socially leftwing, represent approximately 8% of the population. This demographic, while influential in sectors like public services and charities, remains significantly more radical compared to other voter groups in the UK.

The research reveals a striking divergence in views on issues like immigration and “woke culture”. For example, progressive activists are the only group where a majority believes immigration should remain steady or increase, and they are far more likely to argue that “woke culture” has benefited British society.

This disconnection is evident in their views on the wider electorate. Progressive activists, on average, overestimate the popularity of their views, believing that 35% of the population supports the abolition of the monarchy (compared to the actual 18%), and that a quarter supports increasing the number of refugees, when the true figure is only 8%.

Moreover, the study found that progressive activists are less likely to collaborate with other political factions. Two-thirds of them stated they would never campaign alongside someone who had voted for the Reform party, and 46% refused to campaign with Conservative voters. These activists were also more likely to view their opponents as misled by misinformation, contributing to a negative view of those they disagree with.

The report argues that progressive activists need to adopt a more inclusive approach, engaging in more traditional forms of persuasion rather than assuming that people will align with progressive ideals right away. If this shift doesn’t occur, they risk further alienating voters and hindering the progress of their campaigns.