By Hannah Scott.

Are you a young person?

Are you going to vote in this general election?

Do you want to see a change in government?

Then your country needs you.

But do those in charge listen or even care about young people?

Do they realise it is their future that’s up for debate.

The hot topics of this Election debate are the Climate Crisis, Brexit and the NHS.

There is just over a decade left until there will be irreversible damage to our planet. There are many ways to stop this but it’s the youngest generation left dealing with the consequences of failure to deal with the Climate Crisis sooner.

Emmie Main, a Community Education student and member of the SNP said: “Climate change and the environment are a massive issue for young people. Under the SNP government there have been policies introduced to slow down the effects that climate change is having on our planet. Having promised to push the UK government to match the Scottish Government’s climate targets and to introduce a green energy deal, so that we can develop our eco-friendly energy solutions.” Unless there is a vote for change there may be no planet for us to continue with Brexit.

After all we live in a democracy. And over half  of the British population wanted to leave the EU. Therefore we should follow through. 70 per cent of people aged 18-24 voted to remain it is how a referendum works and will be the ones who face the outcomes of the decisions made by those in power.

Ruraidh Stewart, a Student at St Andrews University and member of the Conservative Party said: “The Conservative party is the only credible party that respects the results of both referendums and is actively campaigning to implement the democratic will of the people”.

It is key that those in power keep in mind that those young people are the ones who have to live in a Britain outside the EU. Free travel across the EU, the borders between Northern and Southern Ireland, the levels of immigration are all discussions where the outcome will impact the rest of their lives.

Mr Stewart went on to say why people need to vote: “It is important that everyone exercises their right to vote in this coming election in order to give the next Prime Minister the opportunity to end this period of dither and delay in the next parliament and allow the government to focus on the people’s priorities”.

Britain’s health service is not a commodity up for sale to the highest bidder but a life-saving service for everyone living in the UK. A scratch at the surface of America’s private health care where it costs $20 for a doctor’s appointment, the fears are real for a lot of people scared to lose the NHS.

Speaking to Emma Guidry, a Nurse Practitioner working in America, and mother of four, spoke about the costs when having her youngest child: “Costs over the nine months came to $1600 and the delivery was $1500. Hearing tests were another $200 after she was born. My costs were relatively low as we only stayed 1 night in the hospital (they try and make you stay 2), I also didn’t have an epidural. If I had then I would have had a separate bill from the Anaesthesiologist. A C-section would of course cost more and have a longer hospitalisation”.

These cost are completely inaccessible for young people, so a government committed to making sure the NHS stays a public asset is the forefront of what matters in this election, to young people. Miss Main says: “With stories circling around the cost of healthcare in America, young people have come out in support for keeping our NHS in public hands and I that will sway many young voters, especially those who use the it regularly”.

Voting and letting the government know they can’t ignore young people and their voice is what will change the UK for the better. They know what is at stake in this election. They are the ones that will have to deal with the repercussions of not addressing the real issues that Politicians feel the need to ignore.

This is just the beginning of a ‘Youthquake’ that refuses to be ignored by those in power.