We asked students what they think about the 2017 general election result

The election has been unavoidable for the past 6 weeks, and it’s all anyone has been able to talk about. Don’t even pretend like you weren’t secretly excited for the 8th June purely because it meant people might shut the fuck about it all, finally. But, as the country learnt this morning, that was not going to happen: no one won a majority, it’s a hung parliament, and we’re currently in the worst possible position we could have been in for the Brexit talks.

The only silver lining is the amazing voter turn out for 18-25 year olds, who stuck their middle fingers up at the Conservative government who said they were too lazy to vote and really came through. So, we spoke to those exact students who went out and voted and made a big difference, and asked them how they felt about the election results.

Jack Turpin, Chemistry, third year

“As a socialist, this result is phenomenal. Everyone went into that election assuming that, when we woke up, Conservatives would have a government. But instead we have woken up to the Conservatives not being able to form a government and labour taking seats that were thought to be Conservative safe seats, such as Canterbury which has been Conservative since 1918. I know that Labour haven’t won, in fact far from it, but they have done much better anyone expected, including themselves. It is, however, a win for Corbyn, and he has now proven to anyone who was in doubt that he is the correct leader for the Labour party.

Should Theresa May resign? Yes, but not immediately. She has clearly lost the backing of the public, and from the interviews I watched in the early hours, she has lost the backing of her Conservative party. She has become a real life Nicola Murray. But we do need someone who can head the Brexit talks that start in 11 days, and currently she’s in the best position to do so. If the talks can be suspended, then she should leave ASAP. She is certainly not “strong and stable”, and she is now trying to form her own “coalition of chaos””.

Serena Smith, English, first year

“I thought May was going to win, so I wanted her to win with the smallest majority possible – a hung parliament seems almost miraculous and I’m so happy that’s the result. I’m also glad the Lib Dems have a few more seats and Vince Cable is back. May essentially wanted to wipe out the Labour Party and she’s literally achieved the opposite. Hopefully she’ll resign and let someone more competent take over, largely for the sake of Brexit talks. She’s said that she won’t resign but she also said she wouldn’t call another election, so who knows what’ll happen”.

Stephanie Bennett, History and English, first year

“I think that Labour had a great campaign and has a good leader in Jeremy Corbyn. In contrast, Theresa May is a foul witch and her entire campaign was a joke. She’s like a caricature of a villain, and anyone who can support fox hunting can choke on their own shit. Losing the majority has destroyed any authority she had and she should step down immediately. May’s decision to rely on the DUP party, a party known for its ties to Irish extremists and it’s anti-gay beliefs is quite frankly disgusting. May should be ashamed. “Strong and stable” is fucking dead”.

Megan Slack, English and Creative Writing, first year

(On the left)

“In some ways, the election result has made me happy because there has been a great turn out of first time voters and young people who might not have voted before. It was like we were all united in our views and even though Labour have not officially won, they are stronger and the powerful turnout has shocked the Tories and made it harder for them. However, to hear the Tories are going to collaborate with DUP makes me feel incredibly worried. If they have any power then things could have even been better for the country before the election and before DUP had any say in our laws and rights”.

Duncan Claber, Politics and Parliamentary Studies, third year

“Theresa May held this election to provide strong and stable leadership against a coalition of chaos. With such a big youth turnout voting labour she has failed and is forming her very own coalition of chaos.”

Monica Green

“I’ve been an adamant Corbyn supporter since he ran for leader in 2015 because I think he offers hope in a time where we’re constantly being told we have to have less and less (whilst those at the top gain) and that there is only one option; austerity. He comes across as someone who genuinely believes in what he’s saying and cares for the people he’s fighting for and I think that was clear in his campaign. When comparing Corbyn’s genuine compassion to May’s U-turns and lies, the choice became clear for many people, she wasn’t fighting for those who need fighting for, she was looking out for her friends in big businesses. He also obviously resonated massively with young people as well, and I think this is because we are a much more progressive and understanding generation who question authority and look for alternative ways of tackling issues.

I do think she should resign; the whole reason she called the election in the first place was so she could gain a majority government and lead “strong and stable” Brexit negotiations. She was unable to do this, demonstrating perfectly that she is not the leader this country needs at this time. I think she’s proved herself to be untrustworthy and weak”.

Chelsea Spencer, English Literature, third year

“I’m slightly disappointed but not really surprised that May failed to get a majority. She was wrong to focus primarily on herself and her leadership when the Party had some really good policies. I honestly don’t know if she should resign, we need stability and unity and her resigning would throw us into further turmoil. While I don’t align myself with this heavily left wing Labour Party I’m happy that they achieved gains because now hopefully the country will feel adequately represented in parliament. I’m proud of young people for voting, being engaged in politics and above all acknowledging that they have the power to make their voice heard. At the end of the day strong opposition is important in democracy and now we have it hopefully we can move on as a country and get a fairer deal for everyone”.

Jordan Smith, Physics, third year

“Although I see it as a failure for all parties, especially conservative, I see it as victory for politics. The turnout rates, increased media coverage (i.e. social media) and the excitement of the public regarding the election has piggybacked itself off of Labour’s fantastic campaign; this is something you cannot argue even if you have extremely negative opinions of Corbyn.

In terms of the situation with the minority government, I think Theresa May has embarrassed herself by not only failing to get a majority, but also for any prime minister 0 especially a female prime minister – to stoop as low as to make an informal agreement with a party with such strongly backwards views as the DUP is just a call for her head on the chopping block, at Brussels, and at parliament when we return to normal politics”.

Ed Barnes, English Literature, first year

“The outcome of this election has left me with mixed feelings. On one hand, I am glad that the election that was, in all likelihood, called as a political power grab based on great polling backfired so spectacularly. It shows that you can’t waltz into 10 Downing Street seeking to avoid the press and the very people you are asking to vote for you. It shows that in trying to be a political opportunist, you cannot always get what you want – something May should have learnt from David Cameron. On the other hand and more importantly, a hung parliament and a coalition brings more uncertainty to a government that is in charge of carrying out the most significant diplomatic deal in modern British history. A bad Brexit deal if it is to be carried at all costs will probably come to affect my entire adult life if I decide to stay and work in the UK. While I didn’t have confidence in Theresa May, her plan for Brexit and therefore didn’t vote for her, I worry that her foolish political gamble has made us in a worse off position heading into already-tough negotiations”.