‘I would never go out with someone who supports the Conservative Party.’
Has long been a catchphrase for progressive liberals on dating apps, but it seems some would swipe right even for
Reform.
People browsing online
dating
Profiles in 2025 are more inclined towards dating Reform supporters rather than Conservatives, as indicated by recent studies.
The research, carried out by researchers from the University of Southampton and Harvard University, involved 2,000 individuals aged between 18 and 40 who were tasked with swiping through 20,000 made-up dating profiles, choosing either left or right.
Each profile featured not only AI-generated images but also detailed information regarding the individual’s occupation, pastimes, passions, and education level, along with details on their voting preferences.
The study revealed that political affiliations significantly influenced dating choices, as left-wing individuals tended to be less open to relationships with those on the right compared to the reverse scenario.
Nevertheless, profiles endorsing Nigel Farage’s party performed better compared to those backing Kemi Badenoch’s party.
Why are we becoming enthusiastic about Reform?
Let’s make this clear: the country isn’t suddenly developing a fondness for Reform party supporters.
In general, individuals supporting Labour, Green, and Liberal Democrats appear to have a higher likelihood of finding matches. This may likely stem from these app-users tending to skew younger and thus holding more progressive social views.
Nevertheless, supporters of the Conservative party were far more content to be paired with a voter from the Reform UK party rather than one who supported Labour. Additionally, the Reform movement also gained somematches from other groups.
Subscribe to The Hook-Up, ChinPao’s sexuality and relationship newsletter.
Enjoy diving into steamy tales like this one? Looking for ways to add more excitement to your intimate moments?
Register for The Hook-Up
We’ll glide into your inbox weekly with the freshest sex and dating tales from ChinPao. Can’t wait for you to be part of our community!
This isn’t about embracing the far-right ideology,” explained lead author Dr. Stuart Turnbull-Dugarte, “but rather about Conservative supporters feeling more at ease dating individuals who hold differing views compared to those from an entirely opposing political background.
Lucy Beresford
A psychotherapist and relationship coach, hosting the podcast “On the Couch” where they explore politics through psychological insights, suggests that these findings highlight the ‘novelty and uncertainty’ associated with Reform, formerly known as the Brexit Party, following its renaming in 2021.
These days, it’s quite challenging to admit being a supporter of the Conservative party. The Conservatives have become a well-known brand, but their reputation has suffered significantly due to events over the last 14 years, especially,” she explains.
ChinPao.
‘Reforms are often seen as a “blank slate,” according to Freud’s concept, which allows people to project positive attributes onto them that may not actually be accurate, simply because they lack sufficient information to form an informed opinion.’
‘You could suggest they “likely hold firm beliefs” or “perhaps they are deeply devoted to the flag.”‘
According to Lucy, most individuals lean towards being ‘somewhat centrist,’ which means the emerging Reform party could attract those positioned slightly to the ‘right of center.’ In contrast, parties like The Greens and The Liberal Democrats may seem too far removed from their political comfort zone for these voters.
Political analysts have declared the recent
local elections
a
‘triumph’
For Reform, it might be ‘more palatable to mention being a Reform supporter’ instead of identifying as Conservative at present, ‘as they seem more dominant’.
As Dr Alberto López Ortega, one of the authors of the study, stated: “Going out with a Reform UK supporter isn’t ‘out of bounds,’ and backing the extreme right has grown more accepted.”
As mentioned earlier, we discovered that showing support for either side is probably a ‘red flag’ for more left-leaning users of dating apps.
Is it advisable to date someone who supports Reform?
Lucy advocates for
dating
Outside of your political loyalty, but cautions that it could lead to disaster in the long term.
relationships.
“I certainly believe that venturing out into the world is essential, and this could involve dating individuals with differing viewpoints since it offers an opportunity for learning and sharing perspectives,” she explains.
‘Nonetheless, when discussing long-term relationships, values play a crucial role, and significant differences in these values, often stemming from political beliefs—such as perspectives on wealth redistribution—might ultimately become insurmountable obstacles.’
In this vein, you could discover that the opinions of the individual you’re dating may evolve over time to grow more compatible with your own.
Lucy points out that ‘they may develop feelings of affection for you, which can extend to liking what you enjoy. This could encompass various interests such as your view on movies, gardening, photography, or football. More importantly, this often includes sharing similar political views.’
However, keep in mind, it might lead to you adopting their perspective. Lucy further explains, “This also makes you less sensitive to such issues.”
Therefore, feel free to engage with various political perspectives, but make sure you understand what each party stands for and delve deeper into the stances of your potential matches, rather than just scratching the surface.
Otherwise, you might find yourself aligned with the radical right inadvertently.
Would you like to share a tale?
Reach out via email
ChinPaoLifestyleTeam@ChinPao.co.uk
.
