Northern Ireland

Opinion poll shows Sinn Féin most popular party among post-Good Friday Agreement generation

More than a third of under-35s say they will vote for Sinn Féin. Picture by Paul Faith
More than a third of under-35s say they will vote for Sinn Féin. Picture by Paul Faith More than a third of under-35s say they will vote for Sinn Féin. Picture by Paul Faith

SINN Féin appears to be winning the hearts and minds of the post-Good Friday Agreement generation with more than one-third of younger voters giving the party their support, the latest polling indicates.

Of those voters under the age of 35 surveyed on behalf of the latest Institute of Irish Studies-University of Liverpool/The Irish News, 36.5 per cent say they will give their first preference vote to Sinn Féin. The party also fares well among middle-aged voters, with 20 per cent of 35-59 year-olds planning to back the party at the polls, compared to 9.3 per cent of over sixties.

Read More: Institute of Irish Studies-University of Liverpool/The Irish News poll resultsOpens in new window ]

The DUP proves the next most popular among 18-34 year-olds, with 15.6 per cent of respondents planning to vote for Sir Jeffrey Donaldson's party. However, three quarters of the DUP's voters are drawn from the over-35 cohorts, suggesting the party's support is ageing.

The SDLP draws of its highest proportion of support among 18-34-year-olds (12.4 per cent) and 9 per cent and 10.6 per cent, respectively from the 35-59 and over-60 cohorts.

Support for Alliance is strongest among the middle-aged, with 21.4 per cent of 35-59-year-old respondents pledging Naomi Long's party their vote, compared to 12.7 of under-35s and 18.9 per cent of over sixties.

The Ulster Unionists voter profile suggests support is strongest among the over sixties (20.9 per cent) and weakest by a small margin among under-35s (9.5 per cent) compared to the 35-59 age group (9.6 per cent).

Elsewhere, the polling shows that the TUV draws the majority of its support from the over-60 cohort, while a majority of Green voters tend to be under 35.

Polling shows that the TUV draws the majority of its support from the over-60 cohort. Picture by Pacemaker Belfast
Polling shows that the TUV draws the majority of its support from the over-60 cohort. Picture by Pacemaker Belfast Polling shows that the TUV draws the majority of its support from the over-60 cohort. Picture by Pacemaker Belfast