In Tweets: 10 thoughts students are having on the UK 2017 General Elections

Voters in the United Kingdom will go to the polls today for its general elections.

In the run-up to this election, an issue close to students’ heart, i.e. tuition fees, was finally brought to the headlines. This time around, students have a clear choice to vote from, thanks to the leading parties significantly different promises.

Labour’s manifesto says it will scrap tuition fees straight away, while the Conservatives will keep the system of fees (with students slated to pay the increased fee of £9,250 (US$11,983) a year from this September).

A young supporter carries a placard. Source: Reuters/Peter Nicholls.

With so much at stake for the country’s youth and its higher education system, what are students up to as the country goes to the polls?

We trawl Twitter to find out:

1. 1. Labour🌹is getting more than twice the support than the Tories among the student population, according to this poll by ICM/Guardian Polling

How will students vote tomorrow? Labour by 33%, this poll says. #GeneralElection17 https://t.co/PyoLi82FT7 https://t.co/xuvHEfuuTx

— Student Voices (@StudentVoicesUK) June 7, 2017

2. But looking closer at the numbers, a gender divide cuts across students’ predicted voting patterns

More male students are set to vote #Conservative than #Labour, according to this poll https://t.co/PyoLi82FT7 #GeneralElection17 pic.twitter.com/xwfhgBSx8D

— Student Voices (@StudentVoicesUK) June 7, 2017

3. Money talks, especially among broke students

https://twitter.com/LiarTory/status/872531382014275584

4. While Labour is popular, there are some #TeamMay

https://twitter.com/MichaelBailes93/status/872587986042593281

https://twitter.com/Malware_Blocker/status/868479046451163136

https://twitter.com/ManMaun/status/867993807081545729

5. Not for international students, though. The Tory manifesto pledges to keep students in net migration target and to “toughen the visa requirements for students” to make sure the UK maintains “high standards”

Yet another reason not to vote #Conservative: manifesto pledge to cut overseas student numbers https://t.co/Y2ksOEx5fG

— Markus Bell (@mpsbell) May 21, 2017

6. Suffice to say, current and future international students have a lot at stake for this election, too

https://twitter.com/sunsetsinframes/status/872598889588830209

7. Tuition, internationalisation, student nurses … with so much at stake, a lot of students cannot comprehend voting against their collective interest as students.

https://twitter.com/idkrxmany/status/872555614152646656

How can any uni student vote Conservative when Labour are literally abolishing tuition fees? You're saying "nah cheers I WANT to owe £50k??

— Sean (@seanrbsinfield) May 28, 2017

https://twitter.com/hxnnxhkxlly/status/871731934543695872

Just got student loan statement. Interest almost doubled. Depressing. Please don't vote Tory. Please don't give them a mandate. #VoteLabour

— Holly Burrows (@HollyTBurrows) June 7, 2017

8. Though a word of caution is always good, as much as Labour’s proposed policies empower students and universities. We may forget what we learned in class, but we remember previous Labour leaders’ broken promises

https://twitter.com/Candour8/status/872555619676508160

9. Nonetheless, support for Labour and Corbyn (at least on Twitter) is loud and clear.

Labour is the only party that will help young people. From scrapping tuition fees to building houses. This matters. Register and #VoteLabour pic.twitter.com/Y46VCTxmJ8

— EL4C (@EL4JC) May 14, 2017

I hope Jeremy Corbyn gets in tomorrow – any student or young person who votes otherwise is a clown #GeneralElection17

— Ryan Burns (@Ryan_Burns11) June 7, 2017

Jeremy with student nurses this morning #VoteLabour #GE2017 pic.twitter.com/Svwxua5KIy

— JezWeCan (@Jezwecan) May 8, 2017

Ok, so I've never explicitly supported a party or leader, but that @JeremyCorbyn Labour rally was pretty incredible & moving #VoteLabour pic.twitter.com/28b2EWmTja

— ਇਮਨਦੀਪ ਕੌਰ | Imandeep Kaur (@ImmyKaur) June 6, 2017

Loads of young people turning up to this rally in Gateshead. Some even still in school uniform! Thousands coming to see Corbyn. #VoteLabour pic.twitter.com/zu8PgJG7jZ

— Shelly Asquith (@ShellyAsquith) June 5, 2017

10. In short, there is A LOT riding on today’s polls and the future of students

https://twitter.com/AjayiOlatajayi/status/872507265529643008

Good luck, UK! May the best man prevail.

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