Remember 97?

[DonnyDoris]

Do you remember 97? I was a politics student at the time and the excitement of the change was unreal!! Does anyone feel that way this time round?

No. I remember going to vote before leaving for work, unusual as it meant I'd be later than ideal reaching the office, but I wanted to get in early. Was still up for Portillo and to go outside and see Blair's plane, Red Rose 1, go over on descent to London.

At that stage I was 37, a Civil Servant with young children and paying a mortgage.

Now I'm in my sixties, semi retired, mortgage free and with good savings, both kids flown nest and in decent jobs etc. Maybe less personally invested now.

Yes - I was lower sixth and the feeling of excitement was unreal!

There was a great sense of optimism with a new start and the hope that all the public services would
be restored.

And the britpop era just before then too - it was a rollercoaster mid 90s!

I was in my 20’s, just starting out and was so excited. Stayed up all night to watch the results.
It felt like an exciting time and Britain felt like the centre of the universe. It felt like everything was falling into place.
This doesn’t feel anything like the same type of sea-change. We are jaded. Politicians feel self-serving. The country feels like it’s in a really terrible mess and the political campaigns are boring.
I am sure it will be a huge majority but I won’t be staying up for the results. It will be interesting to see what Starmer does but I’m not expecting things to change dramatically overnight.
There is no one presenting the coverage I feel hugely inspired by, but I was probably opt for Channel 4.

I was living overseas, and remember so badly wanting to be back home to be a part of it all. My overseas colleagues were very interested too, and a little bit envious of the obvious spirit of optimism and excitement in British politics at that time.

It feels very different this time. I'm glad that Labour looks set to win, but they will inherit so many problems. I really hope that Starmer is up to the colossal challenge. He doesn't inspire, but perhaps he will deliver.

No. 1997 was won by a reinvigorated Labour. This one is going to be lost by the flabby and pointless Tories. Many people who are voting Labour aren't doing so because they believe in KS's vision (or even know what it is), but because they are voting "not-Tory".

@Shortfatsuit Starmer reminds me of what I know of Clem Attlee. A quiet and personally uninspiring lawyer who got stuff done.

We've had too many showmen in No 10 recently.

Let's hope so. I'm pretty unconvinced but hoping for a good surprise. He can't be worse than the Boris/Truss/Sunak combo.

Yes, I remember it well! Still living at home and stayed up with my dad watching! It was a memorable evening!

Alas, no, it won't feel the same for me because this time round I don't want a Labour government particularly one led by Keir Starmer and Angela Rayner but I shall continue to look back fondly on '97!

Exactly the same.

Yes I do. I was 25 and it was the 2nd General Election I'd voted in. I remember driving to work and stopping a the newsagent to pick up a paper, an older gentleman smiled and waved at me from across the road and shouted "What a lovely day to be British!"

I agree with @Okayornot though, 97 was a positive vote for an optimistic future. Today is about the Tories losing rather than Labour winning.

Yes - first time voting and I was at university.

It felt optimistic after Major years when it felt there was constant pollical fighting with Euro sceptic conservatives back benchers and Union party.

It doesn't feel like that - feels flat people want conversative out but aren't positive about Labour - I'm not either but maybe they'll pull things round,

I really hope that he will get stuff done. I agree we don't need a showman. Just someone that is prepared to knuckle down and get on with the job of government with the best interests of the country at the top of their priority list.

I'm encouraged by what I have read about what his former colleagues have said about working with him. It seems that he is not primarily motivated by ego or ideology, which is good. I think he is a decent man. But he has a bloody difficult in-tray and a country that is desperate for tangible change...it is not going to be an easy job for him.

The first thing that came to mind “Do you remember 97” was Hillsborough.

No, utter dread that such a bunch of numpties as Keir and his pals can get in.

Din't suppose anyone really thinks of the consequences of what it really means for your family.

Feels very different now, most people seem to be feeling it will be the same shit, different faces.

Yes I was newly married and the late 90s were a great time to be British.

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

The Hillsborough tragedy was in 1989.

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

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

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.

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 🙄

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

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.

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