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YOU ARE THE REASON
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@swingthevote-blog
It’s polling day!
Now is your chance to make a difference and swing the vote. If you’re still not sure who to vote for, here’s a quick tool that might help: http://election2015.votematch.org/
And don’t forget, you don’t need your polling card, and you don’t need ID. Just turn up to your polling station, and tell them your address. If you’re not sure where your polling station is, this can help: http://www.aboutmyvote.co.uk/
What’s going on with… Government spending
You told us you’re worried about how the UK raises and spends its money. So we’ve rounded up the basics on how this affects you, and what the parties say they’ll do about it. Your vote can influence how we carve up the cash. Sign up to Swing the Vote to have your say on what happens next.
Why does this matter?
Ever been to school? Gone to the doctor? Thrown away some rubbish? Then you’ve used a service that the Government is spending money on.
Though it can seem like these services are free, you do actually pay for them - whenever are taxed on your wages, buy food or clothes or pay to live somewhere, you’re putting some cash in the pot to help fund those services.
So you’ve got a right to have a say on how you want the Government to spend your money.
What’s it got to do with politics?
When you’re broke, do you work more hours, or spend less when you go out? Or a bit of both?
Whoever is elected in May will face a similar decision.
Right now the UK is spending more money than it’s bringing in. For a while we’ve been borrowing money to help plug the gap, but now we need to balance things out so we can starting paying off the debt.
Parliament has voted to make sure that the next government will have to balance the money coming in with the money going out in the next 3 years.
Whoever wins the election will have two main ways it can do this:
1) Cutting back on some services to run the country more cheaply
2) Raising taxes to bring in more money.
Higher tax and cuts to services aren’t much fun for anyone, but by voting you can show which party you think has the best ideas about what we should pay more tax for, and which services we can and can’t afford to cut back on.
What will politicians do about it?
The Conservatives want to balance things out without raising taxes - in fact they’ve promised to reduce tax on wages for 25 million people, and even cut tax on petrol and diesel. But lower taxes will mean they need to make more drastic cuts to services.
Labour want to reduce the gap with less drastic cuts to services, but to do this they’ll need to raise taxes, especially for businesses and richer people.
They plan to stop richer pensioners from claiming money from the government to help with heating bills, and put a maximum limit on how much the UK can spend on benefits each year.
They and the Lib Dems both say they’ll ‘share the burden fairly’ between the rich and poor by introducing new taxes on the rich, including a tax on multimillion-pound homes.
The Green Party are against cuts to services. Instead they want to introduce a new wealth tax, new taxes on banks, and close some of the loopholes that currently make it possible for richer people and businesses to cut down their tax bills.
Meanwhile, UKIP say they’ll get rid of environmental taxes we pay as part of our home energy bills, and cut some specific projects to reduce spending – they’d leave the European Union to save £8bn a year in membership fees, and scrap plans to build a high speed railway connecting London and the North.
To bring in more money, they want to invest in the UK’s ability to mine for shale gas. Money made from selling this fuel would then be invested in services.
Make sure you get a say on what gets funded, and what gets cut. Sign up to #SwingtheVote and get yourself on the voter register.
What’s going on with… Care for older people
You told us you’re worried about your parents and grandparents, and how they’re going to be looked after in their old age. And you want politicians to help them. The good news is that your vote can help give your older relatives better options. Sign up to Swing the Vote to have your say on what happens next.
Why does this matter?
We all love our families. Especially our grandparents, right? And because getting older can make some things a little more difficult, we all want to make sure our older relatives get the help they need, when they need it, so that they stay healthy and happy.
And that they don’t need to stress about how much it’s going to cost, or how they’re going to pay for it.
What’s it got to do with politics?
The good news is, we’re all living longer. But as the number of older people in the UK steadily rises, there’s more pressure on the UK’s health and care services to provide the support they need.
Right now, the Government can’t afford to cover the full costs of care for the number of people who need it. And it can often be hard for older people and their families to pay for it all themselves.
That means that the expense, and the work, involved in caring for older relatives can often fall to their families – or the older people themselves.
If politicians don’t get this sorted now, the UK’s health services aren’t going to be able to help all the people who need support (remember the A&E crisis in January? Those 6-hour waits could get a lot longer…)
Meanwhile, your generation could end up with a big bill and a long to-do list when it comes to looking after your parents further down the line.
What will politicians do about it?
1. Invest more in health services
Pretty much all the parties say they’d increase spending on the NHS, though some are more specific about the figures than others.
The Conservatives will put an extra £2bn into the NHS in the first year after the election, then keep spending at the same level until 2017.
Meanwhile Labour say they’ll put in an extra £12.5bn over 5 years.
The Lib Dems want to spend an extra £1bn per year for the first two years after the election, then gradually increase spending so that by 2020 we are investing £8bn a year more in the NHS than we do now.
UKIP say they’ll increase spending, but haven’t said how much by yet. The Greens say they’ll offer more services and reduce the costs to patients, but again haven’t announced how much money they’ll put in to make this happen.
In terms of where the money will be spent, both Labour and the Conservatives want to focus on ‘front line’ health services, with the Conservatives taking on 5,000 new doctors so that all patients to have access to a GP from 8am to 8pm, seven days a week. Labour say they’ll invest in 20,000 nurses, 8,000 GPs, 3,000 midwives and 5,000 care workers, and guarantee an appointment with a GP within 48 hours for everyone who needs one.
UKIP want to set required standards of spoken English for doctors and nurses.
2. Care for more people outside hospital
Several of the parties say they want to reduce the number of older people being taken to hospital for problems that can easily be treated in their homes and communities, or prevented completely by regular check-ups.
Labour want to introduce new software that will help GP practices to identify patients most in need of help so they can make checks on the most vulnerable elderly patients. They’ll also recruit 5,000 new home care workers to treat more people at home, with longer visits so they can give patients more help.
The Green Party say they’ll increase community services for elderly and disabled people, including those with long term mental and physical health problems or learning difficulties.
3. ‘Join up’ health and social care services
Lots of politicians feel that we need to make health and care services more efficient by making sure that doctors and care workers are communicating better and sharing information about their patients’ needs.
Labour say they’ll bring together health and social care services, into a system of ‘whole-person care’, so that physical, mental and social care services are linked.
The Lib Dems want to set up local agreements that allow the NHS and care services to share budgets as well as patient information. They also want to give more power to local panels that bring representatives from health, social care and children’s services together to discuss people’s needs and decide how best to support them.
Both parties say that, where possible, these services should focus on preventing ill health by regularly checking in with patients so that they are better able to spot potential health problems before they have a chance to develop.
4. Reducing costs of care for patients
Another big talking point is how to make sure older people’s health and care needs don’t bankrupt them or their families.
The Lib Dems want to give all patients a ‘care footprint’ that tracks the costs of their care, and cap the cost to patients and their families, so that if a person’s care costs more than a certain amount, the government will pay the rest.
The Green Party say they’ll give all older people free personal care (e.g. help with dressing, washing, emotional support) for older people, and UKIP are on a mission to stop hospitals charging car parking fees in England.
Make sure you get a say on how the government looks after Grandma. Sign up to #SwingtheVote and get yourself on the voter register.
What's going on with... the cost of housing?
You told us you’re worried about where you’re going to live. And you want politicians to give you some answers in the run up to the General Election. Here are the basics on how your vote can make a difference.Sign up to Swing the Vote to have your say on what happens next.
Why does this matter?
Hands up who’s dreamed of not having to live with their parents anymore? Or fantasised about flushing their flatmate’s head down the toilet after they left ANOTHER massive hairball in the plughole?
You’re not the only one.
Having the cash to get a place of your own - or even just somewhere you don’t have to share with a bajillion other people - can seem like an impossible dream. Especially if you’re studying, or just starting out in your first job and not yet earning the megabucks.
This is a big issue for hundreds of thousands of people – and it’s one that politicians need to come up with some solutions on.
What’s it got to do with politics?
Over the past few years, the numbers of new homes being built in the UK each year has gone down. Now there aren’t enough to go round for all of us that want them.
So politicians need to find ways to make sure we’re building enough houses to close the gap. That means encouraging developers to build and sell more homes, and finding the right places to put them.
At a time when the gap between wages and house prices is pretty massive, they need to help more people with the costs of buying a place of their own.
And because costs have ruled buying out for so many people, it’s also getting more expensive to rent.
More and more landlords are taking advantage of the increasing number of people frantically searching for somewhere to live by overcharging on rent, putting too many people in their properties, or not keeping them in good condition.
Basically, they know that when you’re desperate for a roof over your head, you’re probably going to be less picky about the price tag – or the number of people you have to live with.
If they want to win votes, the parties are under pressure to do something about all of this.
What will politicians do about it?
1. Build more homes
Most of the parties are saying they’ll increase how many homes are built each year . Labour say they’ll make sure we get to 200,000 a year by 2020, and theLib Dems want to take it even higher, to 300,000.
2. Help first-time buyers
If you’re looking to buy your first place, the Conservatives say they’ll help by running more schemes to help you with the deposit. They’ll increase the number of government loans available to help you buy with a smaller deposit, and build some new homes that you can rent at a discounted rent for up to seven years while you save up to buy them.
They also say they’ll put in some money so that 100,000 new homes can be sold at a discount to people under 40.
Labour aim to double the number of people able to own their first place over the next ten years.
3. Use space that’s been built on before
When it comes to where new homes should be built, UKIP say they’ll make it easier for developers to build in places that have been built on before, rather than on green spaces and farmland.
They also want to make sure that the first buyers of these homes don’t have to pay Stamp Duty (weird name for an extra charge you pay to the government when you buy a house).
The Green Party want to focus on doing up empty properties before building new homes.
4. Give renters a better deal
If you rent your place, Labour say they’ll put a limit on how much your landlord can increase your rent each year, and ban letting agents from charging extra fees.
The Lib Dems want to introduce new laws to stop landlords overcrowding properties, renting out poor-quality homes, or trying to evict tenants for complaining about the state of their properties.
Both these parties also want to change the law to make three-year tenancies more common so that renters have more long-term security.
5. Change the rules on who gets help from the government
UKIP want to change the social housing system to give priority to ex-service personnel (e.g. former soldiers) and people whose parents and grandparents were born locally.
They also say they’ll introduce rules that mean migrants must have lived in the UK for 5 years before they can be offered social housing.
Make sure you get a say in your options on where to live. Sign up to #SwingtheVote and get yourself on the voter register.
Should I let the government read my Snapchat?
Nika Savenko, one of our prized Team v Leaders, is struggling to come to terms with how much of a good thing Government surveilance is. Do we want to live in a country where our privacy is controlled? Her guest blog prompts you to decide for yourself…
Most of you have a smart phone or a computer and are constantly using it. I, for one, check my phone constantly throughout the day. It’s my lifeline.
Some politicians want to ban apps such as Snapchat, Whatsapp and even FaceTime because security services cannot view what is sent over them. That’s due to the way those apps encrypt their data.
Privacy vs terrorism
The terrorists who carried out the Charlie Hebdo shootings on 7 January 2015, as well as the siege on the Jewish supermarket in Paris, were communicating through the aforementioned apps. This meant the French Government couldn't have predicted what was being planned. In response to this, David Cameron pledged to revive the Snooper's Charter.
The Snooper’s Charter
The Snooper’s Charter helps security services to survey what we do online. To justify his pledge, the Prime Minister asked, “In our country, do we want to allow a means of communication between people which […] we cannot read?”
On one hand, that seems to make sense. We obviously want our Government to find out about planned terrorist plots and stop them before people get hurt. The events of the 7/7 tube bombings are well remembered by everyone in the UK, and of course the whole world knows the infamous date of 9/11.
A right to privacy
Crime planning aside, the right to be able to express our opinions freely and privately is important. This came to light when Edward Snowden revealed just how far NSA surveillance goes. This was followed by the phone hacking of German Chancellor Angela Merkel's mobile, which created problems between Germany and America (not a great move for one country to make on an ally, is it?).
Privacy groups go as far as to say that banning the public from using these apps could be compared to countries whose citizens are oppressed. For example, during the Arab Spring social media outlets were banned in Egypt for a few days by President Hosni Mubarak. It enraged the world. Is that the kind of country we want the UK to be?
Could Snapchat really be banned?
How far is David Cameron really willing to go with this if the Conservatives win this election? Some say that he simply wouldn't be able to carry this out because the public outcry would be too big. Other parties, like the Lib Dems, have publicly opposed this. Meanwhile Labour’s Ed Miliband has said “It's important for security services to keep up to date with technology, but it must be done in the right way”. The UK prides itself in being an equal and just society, where anyone can have their say – but what do you think the right course of action is?
Many young people have lost faith in the Government and in politicians as a whole. A large proportion of 18-25 year olds either choose not to vote, or simply don't imagine that their vote will count. But it does. It does if you register to vote and make it known that you WILL be at that polling station on 7 May. Have your say, and sign up to #swingthevote.
Want to learn more about politics from your favourite YouTubers? Check out their #swingthevote videos.
The gap between the rich and poor
This week, vInspired Team v Senior Mentor, John Morris, tackles this sticky subject head-on...
I've spent most of my life on benefits. I even lived by myself during sixth form, getting just over £50 a week to buy, food, rent, electricity and gas, clothing and everything in between. I know what it feels like to be poor. To have to weigh up every spending decision and work out what I'll have to give up if I want to go to the cinema or buy slightly nicer food. Which is why the gap between the rich and poor really matters to me, why it strikes me as showing the huge inequalities in Britain.
How does this affect the youth vote?
According to an 2013 ONS survey, the richest 1% in the UK now own as much as the poorest 55%. That's a startlingly high number and it's only getting bigger.
This gap between the rich and poor only helps to fuel young people's disillusionment with politics. Why should they care about voting when the people at the top will have enough money no matter what happens, no matter which service or resource is cut?
Let's crunch the numbers...
You might be thinking, "but this is okay, surely? The rich will pay their taxes – they will still contribute to the UK's economy."
Well, whilst many do, between 2012-13 individuals and businesses paid £34 billion less tax than they should have. That's £500 per person, per year. That's enough to pay for free school buses for all kids, tax breaks for the poorest in the economy and it'd help fund those in the hardest conditions to go to university.
A public school frenzy
Let's take a look at parliament itself.
There's an enormously high number of MPs who either come from rich backgrounds or are themselves rich. The actual figure is hard to work out as MPs don't need to publish their earnings outside of parliament, but the majority of those in the coalition's cabinet are millionaires.
All four leaders - Clegg, Cameron, Miliband and Farage - come from highly privileged backgrounds. Also, if you can donate more than £50,000 yearly to the Conservative party you get to have dinner, and an in, with the Prime Minister. Do you think that's acceptable?
Young people are in control
Do you know what we have that they don't? Numbers.
Sure, politicians have money, but they still need to get elected. If we turn out to vote en mass, we have a say in the loopholes that allow tax dodging.
If you want to change a system where the rich prosper, then go out and vote. If young people came out in force we could truly tip the scales. Young people could take politics away from it's rich heritage and bring it back to the people. Or we could just not vote and let the system continue... The choice is ours.
Want to learn more about politics from your favourite YouTubers? Check out their #swingthevote videos.
I'm working with a charity called Vinspired on their Swing The Vote campaign, which is all about encouraging young people to vote. You deserve to have your say guys, so get registered and get voting! Leave me a comment if you'll be voting in the upcoming election :)
What’s going on with… Tuition Fees
When we started asking how you feel about politics, tuition fees came up in almost every conversation. Here are the basics on how your vote can make a difference on what happens next with them in the UK.
How do tuition fees work?
Student fees were first introduced in the UK in 1998. Before that it was free to go to university and you got a small amount of money (a grant) from the government to support you while you studied.
Right now, you could pay anywhere between £0 and £9000 a year for tuition depending on where you live, the university you go to, and what you study. Most people pay £9000 a year.
All students can get government loans to cover their fees and living costs. There are also government grants available for students with financial hardship, disabilities or children.
Graduates start to pay their loans back on a monthly basis once they are earning, with a small percentage deducted from your pay packet each month (like national insurance or income tax) . The more you earn, the more you pay back each month.
The minimum salary you have to be on for the payments to kick in is £16,910 p.a., but it varies depending where you live. Grants don’t have to be paid back.
Why does this matter?
Student debt takes time to pay off, and it can effect your life and decisions in lots of different ways.
When it comes to applying to uni, you might feel you’d rather not take on the debt and choose to look for alternatives to university study, like apprenticeships or full time work, instead.
If you do decide to go, it might mean that you worry more about money than previous generations of students have needed to.
You may feel under more pressure to save money to reduce your debt, or choose to live at home to cut the amount you need to borrow.
It can also influence what subject you choose to study, and where, as financial pressures make it more important than ever to consider your chances of getting a job when you finish your degree.
Once you’ve got your degree, debt can be a real factor in deciding what to do next. Some graduates feel the pressure to find a well-paid job double-quick in to start tackling the debt – making an already difficult job market even more stressful.
And if you were considering of further study, travel or volunteering experience as next steps before settling into the 9-to-5, money matters might make you think twice.
What’s it got to do with politics?
In 2010, students across the UK protested when it was suggested that fees might rise from £3000 a year.
In the run up to that year’s general election, the Lib Dems promised to stand against fee increases, but afterwards the new Conservative/Lib Dem coalition government allowed universities to charge students up to £9000 a year.
Some people say that this ‘broken promise’ has made them lose trust in politicians, and it’s become a hot issue for the parties as they try to win votes in the run up to this year’s elections.
Most UK universities say they would not be able to deliver high quality education or offer enough places for everyone that wants them without the income from tuition fees, unless the government is prepared to supply funding to replace it, which would mean raising more money from taxes to cover the cost.
One idea is a ‘graduate tax’ that high-earning graduates start to pay when they begin to earn more than a certain amount – likely to be 10-20 years after they’ve graduated. In the meantime, this would leave a funding gap that the government would have to find a way to pay for.
What will politicians do about it?
Labour say they’ll cut tuition fees in England to £6,000 per year from autumn 2016 and increase maintenance grants by £400 a year. To help pay for this, they plan to charge graduates earning more than £42,000 higher interest on their student loan repayments.
The Green Party say they’ll abolish university fees completely.
UKIP are talking about waiving fees for degrees in science, technology and medicine, but they haven’t made a final commitment yet.
The Lib Dems say it would be ‘irresponsible’ to commit to a reduction in fees before the election, and the Conservatives haven’t said much either way yet.
Make sure you have your say on what to do about Tuition Fees. Sign up to #SwingtheVote and get yourself on the voter register.
What's going on with... the Cost of Living?
When we asked what you most wanted politicians to tackle in the run up to this year’s General Election, the Cost of Living was top of the list. So we’ve rounded up the basics on what the parties plan to do about it.
Why does it matter?
The cost of living is increasing in the UK. For the past five years, the price of housing, energy, transport and food has been increasing much faster than wages.
That can make things pretty tough. Especially if you’re studying, unemployed, or starting out in your first job.
What’s it got to do with politics?
Your vote can make a difference on this. Each of the parties have ideas about things they’d do to bring the cost of living down – it’s just a matter of working out who you think has the best plan.
Here’s what they’re saying right now…
WAGES
The Green Party and Labour want to increase the National Minimum Wage – so employers would have to pay you more.
The flip side is that it will make it more expensive for bosses to pay their staff, so might mean they can’t afford to employ you in the first place.
The Greens would put the minimum wage up to £10 an hour, while Labour reckon £8 an hour is the sweet spot.
The Liberal Democrats, Conservatives and UKIP all say that instead of forcing bosses to increase wages, they’ll cut taxes so that you get to take home more of your pay packet.
But that’s got drawbacks too - the government will need to find money from somewhere else to make up for the loss of these taxes and make sure there’s still enough cash to run schools and hospitals.
HOUSING COSTS
Most of the parties want to build lower-cost homes so that more of you can buy your first place.
The Conservatives say they’ll subsidise some of them so that first-time buyers can buy them for 20% less than they’d cost normally, and run programmes to help with deposits – like a ‘rent to buy’ scheme where you get discounted rent for 7 years to help you save up, then have the option to buy your home at the end.
If you’re a renter, some of the parties want to help you out, too. Labour say they’ll ban letting fees and put a limit on how much your landlord can increase your rent each year.
BILLS
When it comes to the bills, Labour say they’ll keep gas and electricity prices the same til 2017, and UKIP want to scrap some environmental rules to make your gas and electricity cheaper. The Lib Dems say they’ll bring energy bills down by starting a programme to help you with the costs of insulating your homes better.
TRANSPORT
If you drive, the Conservatives plan to make it cheaper by 'freezing’ tax on petrol. For those of you who prefer the bus, the Lib Dems say they’ll give you two-thirds off your fare if you’re aged 16-21.
CHILDCARE
Mum or Dad? You might be interested in Labour’s plan to offer 25 hours of free childcare a week to 3 and 4 year-olds with working parents.
Make sure you have your say on what to do about the Cost of Living. Sign up to #SwingtheVote and get yourself on the voter register.
10 YouTubers, 10 Issues, 10 Weeks
You told us you need more info to use your vote. Less party political jargon - more straight answers. So we’ve teamed up with 10 amazing YouTubers to give you the facts on the issues you voted most important in the run up to the election - how they’ll affect you, and what each party says they’ll do about them. First up is Jimmy Hill explaining why the cost of living is such a big deal, and what the political parties say they are going to do about it.