Remember 97?

Nope. I remember how that ended too.

I'm hoping my cynicism about all of this is purely because I'm older. 97 felt so exciting, the beautifully sunny morning on the Friday was a metaphor for how we all felt. This feels like there's no good result and with the expected Labour victory we've got a fight ahead of us to retain our sex based rights.

I was in Year 13 and really frustrated as my friends could all vote but I was only 17. I can remember the excitement though, and a strong sense that ‘change was coming.’

This year, I feel hopeful for change, but far less excited. Maybe I’m just less naive, but like a PP said, I feel like we’re voting for ‘not the Tories’ rather than ‘for Labour’.

I do. It was my first GE. The sun was shining. I felt like a real grown-up! I stayed up all night to watch the results. I saw Portillo go.

Yes, I was a young, idealistic Labour activist in a battleground marginal seat in 97. I still own the ‘Labour win 97’ t-shirt.

For me, this year feels completely different. I sense none of the genuine hope, excitement & idealism of 97. I met Blair a couple of times, he was an incredibly charismatic rock star politician. Starmer isn’t any of those things.

Now, this country is very divided and has serious structural problems which would be very challenging for any government to tackle. Back then, the economy was doing well and Britain was enjoying a good cultural moment with Britpop, Euro 96 etc etc. There was a genuine feel good factor which seems impossible today.

I was 13 and has just started to be interested in socialism so I was all excited about it, especially as I lived in an ultra safe Conservative area where the MP was unseated. The election and the Manic Street Preachers inspired me to study political history to post grad level.
I remember huge arguments with my parents about Tony Blair and how my mum didn't like Cherie. She hasn't changed and might have been the only person in the UK who felt sorry for Liz Truss.
The late 90s and early 00s had such promise and magic. I was growing up and felt like the outside world was a happy place. I was desperate to study hard so I could get away from my difficult home life. I'm old now, and a little nervy at whether Labour can get across then line. But I feel the same desperate hope with this election as I felt as a young girl.

Back then, I was blasting A Design For Life in my room, dreaming. Now, I'm singing the same song while giving my little DD dinner, still dreaming. She, for the most thinks I'm bonkers but she'll learn. Keeping the red (pink?!) Flag flying.

Teacher living in Islington and working in Camden so right in the heart of liberalism and labour a la Blair, Brown, Campbell etc. The atmosphere was electrifying and walking back through the streets of Tufnell Park in the early hours, on a warm night with windows opened, hearing cheer after cheer as the results came in. It was magical, hopeful and exciting…..

No. This isn't New Labour and Starmer isn't leading with a shiny, bright and progressive manifesto. Britpop and Girl Power are not about to make a reappearance.

It's looking more positive than the last 14 years, but it's going to be a long, hard slog to deliver meaningful improvements. I'm not sure the electorate has the stomach for what needs doing, and no politician has had the honesty to tell them.

No. Even though Blair turned out pretty shit in some ways I remember the sheer excitement at the time - it felt like a new era! Let's face it none of the candidates we have now are particularly inspiring. I'm glad we're (hopefully) getting the Tories out but no, zero excitement about the opposition

I was nearly 15 and remember visiting my grandad just before he died and he was moaning about it and saying they were all useless. Seeing the main party leaders on the television going out to vote.

Oh yes, I remember it as if it was yesterday. The Portillo moment will forever be etched in my mind. It was warm and sunny and we had a BBQ and opened some fizz. I was 37 at the time but the feeling of excitement and things getting better was visceral. It's not the quite the same this time, maybe because I'm now in my late sixties, but I am a life long Labour voter and I hope to god the polls are right for the sake of young people.

I was 6 weeks off my 18th birthday and so frustrated I couldn't vote. And even more frustrated with some of my friends who were 18 and either apathetic or in some cases not registered because theor parents hadn't read the forms properly and thought you didn't register until you turn 18.

My best friend (still a close friend) and I were probably the most politically engaged in our year and both of us still 17 for a few weeks and cross about it.

Well I'm too old to drive round Cheshire in an open top sports car (miles from where I live) like last time looking for signs to pinch.
Friday was a bright sunny day, we thought things could only get better.

. Because the first thing Blair did was impose tuition fees for university

It's why I didn't vote for him next time- because I had a younger sibling aiming for university though due to parents income dropping due to redundancy they didn't end up paying the fees.

But 1997 I did vote for them - and did so with a lot of hope for a better future.

*That’s assuming they get in tonight of course.

I was a politics student in Manchester at the time. We were delirious with excitement and happiness. I don’t feel the same way because I know how much of an uphill struggle it’s going to be for Labour to retain their position at the next election thanks to 14 years worth of Tory shite to clear up ahead of them.

Missed a bit. I don't think it feels the same now. But I'm a civil servant and don't get involved in politics so I'm a bystander this time

Yes. I'd been volunteering on the local Labour campaign for a long time. We were unseating a member of the 1922 committee so a safe Tory seat. I wasn't quite old enough to vote but I stood at the polling station for a long time that day doing the exit poll. The feeling as the count came in that night was phenomenal.

In fact over the last century labour have only been in power around a third of that. Historically they're a very weak opposition.

No. Because the first thing Blair did was impose tuition fees for university. Then there was an almighty scramble to get into uni in 1997 to avoid the fees starting in 1998. It was chaos.

I had friends who cancelled gap years to avoid it etc.

Then the illegal wars and billions spent on it.

My god that was an amazing time and change we all needed 🙄

I wasn’t old enough to vote in 97, I was a teenager then, but I am feeling excited and optimistic about today. Those who’ve said they’re less personally invested as they’re older and more comfortable - let’s make the change for those who aren’t! Those who are concerned about personal impact of a new government, I genuinely can’t see how it can be worse than the last decade we’ve had of Tory government, increasing our taxes whilst decimating public services and lining their own pockets. Politicians are absolutely not ‘all as bad as each other’ they’ve literally and repeatedly lied to us and stolen from us. Keir Starmer has a huge job ahead of him, and I agree he’s not the most inspiring, and the Labour Party is by no means perfect, but if Labour win today I will be so thankful to have someone of principle at the helm.

I agree. He'll tax housing, pensions, savings and inheritance. All the things we work for.

I'm sorry. You were referring to the number of people who lost their lives

The Hillsborough tragedy was in 1989.

Was the first election I voted in and the most memorable as it was so exciting. It felt like there would be real change.