Nearly a Third of Young Britons Say Political Violence Is Sometimes Acceptable

A new report on British social cohesion reveals a sharp generational fault line: 29% of 18–34-year-olds consider political violence acceptable in some circumstances, compared to 20% across the general population. The finding, from polling by More in Common conducted in spring 2026, accompanies a broader erosion of institutional trust—28% of respondents say individuals should ignore rules and institutions that impede change. The report, authored by Sara Khan, the former counter-extremism commissioner, suggests procedural legitimacy has frayed across British society's ideological spectrum.