First-time voters highlight cost of living and NHS

Of those applicants, 759,468 were aged under 25 – 26% of the total.

I have been speaking to four 18-year-old, first-time voters at Coventry College.

Winner Ekwunife said the issues that mattered most to her during the election campaign were “accommodation and [the] economy”.

She said: “Based on the amount of immigrants coming in, legally and illegally… [They’re causing] a shortage of houses for legal immigrants to stay in and then for the young ones to get the houses on time, just like our parents did, back in the days.”

In terms of the economy, she highlighted the high cost of living.

“It’s not encouraging for youths, for us children, and yeah seeing our parents struggle with keeping us, feeding us… then [we’re] just wondering what it might be when it gets to our turn,” she said.

“It’s gonna be hell if nothing is done right now, so yeah that’s why it matters to me.”