From local issues like education and job opportunities to the leaders' personalities, a lot is playing on the minds of nearly 7,000 Ipswich students who will be voting for the first time. 

All of the UK will be going to the polling booths in the general election on Thursday, July 4.

In the Ipswich constituency, Conservative candidate Tom Hunt will be defending the majority of 5,479 votes he won in the 2019 poll.

Labour's Jack Abbott, James Sandbach of the Liberal Democrats, Green Adria Pittock, Reform's Tony Love, Freddie Sofar of the Communist Party and Terence Charles of the Heritage Party are all hoping to take the seat.

Mr Hunt's tally was the largest Conservative majority seen in the town for several decades.

The nearly 7,000 first-time voters in the town this time around could become a crucial part of the electorate, and they have a range of concerns going into the polling stations.

Jacob Cooper believes more investment should be made for youth activitiesJacob Cooper believes more investment should be made in youth activities (Image: Suffolk New College)

Jacob Cooper, a student at Suffolk New College, said that he would like to see the government invest in activities for young people.

"There are a lot of youngsters around, and there isn’t a lot to do," he said. 

"I feel like the government should invest more into youth.”

A university student wants to see leaders pledge to protect the town centre and its businessesA university student wants to see leaders pledge to protect the town centre and its businesses (Image: Shikhar Talwar)

Meanwhile down at the University of Suffolk, Mo Khan, a biology student, said that he would like to see more initiatives made to save Ipswich's town centre and its local businesses, but believes neither party are following through with those interests. 

The NHS additionally stands as a big issue that young people are concerned about. 

Even those who are too young to vote in this election say that the candidates need to focus on the hospital and health care services.

Emily Hammond, who studies childcare at Suffolk New College added to this, stating: “The NHS really needs to be improved by having increased appointments at GPs and overall shorter waiting times - and better care for the staff in hospitals and the patients who attend."

However, students are not only concerned about local topics, but also national events such as the state of education and cost of living.

Suffolk students Saamya Karol-Mehra, Alice Reily and Hanar Nzar (left to right) are all concerned about various national issuesSuffolk students Saamya Karol-Mehra, Alice Reily and Hanar Nzar (left to right) are all concerned about various national issues (Image: Eastern Education Group)

Saamya Karol-Mehra, from One Sixth Form College: “If I was Prime Minister I would do something with the education system as there are lots of people I know who have just dropped out."

Meanwhile, Hanar Nzar said her main concern is the rising cost of living.

She said: "My family is always talking about it. Wages have gone up but being able to afford things – it feels like a luxury to get a packet of sweets.”

A lot of students aren't only focusing on the policies at display, but the personalities of the leaders as well. 

Students are not just focuing on Tom Hunt and Jack Abbott but also their party leadersStudents are not just focusing on Tom Hunt and Jack Abbott but also their party leaders (Image: Shikhar Talwar)

Are wA student said they would like the politicians to focus on the country rather than each other (Image: Paul Geater)

For many their concern has shifted from what Mr Hunt, Mr Abbott and other candidates can offer to what Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer are like. 

Alice Reily said that while the cost of living is on her mind, the friction between the parties must be curtailed: "There has been so much disruption between the parties - they should maybe focus on the country rather than fighting between each other.”

This was agreed with by university student Jane Hill, who said that both leaders feel "unlikeable".

Speaking of Mr Sunak's decision to leave the D-Day commemorations to do an interview, in which he said he didn't have Sky TV growing up, she said: "It's funny to think he could not watch The Simpsons growing up because, in this entire bit, he seems like the Sideshow Bob meme that keeps standing on rakes."

Meanwhile, with Sir Keir, she is more annoyed by how he has conducted himself in changing his policies over recent years.