I'm a millennial, and I don't love Jeremy Corbyn. What's wrong with me?

I have watched agog as Corbyn has become something of a messiah for millennials, not dissimilar to Bernie Sanders in the US – he is our generation’s ‘Daddy Cool’

Many young Corbyn fans have gathered in Brighton for the Labour Conference and World Transformed Festival (Getty)

Tinder, arguably the most vacuous of dating apps, seems like the last place where politics would be a deal-breaker. Rob, 25, disagrees. “Not Labour? Swipe Left”, reads his bio, and immediately part of me wants to swipe right in a tiny act of rebellion. In case a possible Tory sweetheart is undeterred, his pictures include a charming Piggate-era meme to twist the knife.

Meanwhile on Facebook, Lauren is telling anyone who will listen that she is a Corbynista, a sentiment reinforced by the constant reposting of a blurry selfie with the poster grandad of Britain’s Left. Admittedly, it’s tricky to imagine anyone bolstering their Facebook kudos in the same way with a picture of Theresa May (field of wheat optional). She vows to unfriend anyone who openly confesses an intention to vote otherwise. On the day of this year’s election, a strongly-worded status written with the air of a disappointed teacher scolds those who voted for one of Corbyn’s rivals for letting down not just her, but her entire generation.

I don’t want to admit it, but this guilt-tripping is working on me. While I don’t regret my decision back in June to cross the box next to my local Liberal Democrat candidate, I sometimes find myself wondering: Was my vote against Labour a vote against young people?

I have watched agog as Jeremy Corbyn has become something of a messiah for millennials in recent years, not dissimilar to Bernie Sanders in the United States. Corbyn is our generation’s “Daddy Cool”: just as comfortable among the revellers at Glastonbury as he is on the political stage.

It is this down-to-earth demeanour that has catalysed his ascent to rock star status for many young Brits, and at times he has nearly won me over too.

Watching this week’s annual conference – or should that be concert, what with its spontaneous outbursts of song and ovation – the non-Labour voter can be allowed to feel a little jealous. Even the fringe event to the main Labour Party gathering, Momentum’s The World Transformed, had almost 1,000 people turning up to a 300-capacity venue. In contrast, the Conservatives’ own Big Tent Ideas Fest, dubbed the “Tory Glastonbury”, saw only 200 or so supporters gather in May’s Berkshire constituency this weekend.

It may well be thanks to Corbyn that politics is no longer a taboo conversation topic up there with salaries and religion. However, when I have confessed in polite company that I do not vote Labour, a certain barrier returns. First comes the mildly horrified concern, as though I have just announced that I am uprooting to Antarctica. Then the confusion – and occasionally the aggressive questioning – begins. It almost feels like they see no other option for young people than Labour. Although it may seem like young people are only voting for Labour, there are also plenty of young Lib Dems and Tories who can see an exciting future – they just don’t talk about it very much.

Remember the carrots that were dangled in front of young voters by Labour earlier this year to win their support? Now rotten, they are used to taunt me about what could have been. You could have been gifted with a free university education, rather than being lumbered with debt you’ll never pay off. You could have had the chance to actually buy a house, rather than wasting money on rent every month. You could be saying Prime Minister Jeremy Corbyn, but because of you we’re all lumbered with more years with a Bloody Difficult Woman.

For me, the truth is that I disagreed with some of Corbyn’s policies, and as a consequence preferred my vote to go elsewhere. But by the way some of my peers have reacted, you would think that I have thrown away our collective futures by exercising my right to choose. Those of us who voted differently are not the same silent majority who voted for Brexit – I’m an ardent Remainer – but we still come under just as much flack.

I admire the Robs and Laurens of the world for their dedication to Labour, but I thought we were more mature than the “You Can’t Sit With Us” attitude. There is a fine line between free speech and bigotry – so don’t tell me my vote for the Liberal Democrats is a wasted one.