West Cumbria election: First-time voters battling against political ‘noise’

They were born under a Labour government, became teenagers under a Conservative one, and a week today, they will vote for the first time. As the parties try to engage younger voters, these young people in west Cumbria have plenty to say.

When it comes to accessing mental health support, 19-year-old Erin Harrison from Whitehaven says she considers herself lucky, but she is aware her experience is not the norm among her peers.

Although she feels “a bit overwhelmed” at the thought of voting for the first time on 4 July, one thing is clear – she wants whoever is voted in to address NHS waiting times and access to Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS).

“I know from personal experience and then from friends’ experiences that the CAMHS’ waiting list is ridiculously long and it’s even hard to get on to,” she says.

“That’s something that’s so close to my heart and I really feel like that needs to be improved upon.”