Raheela Shah, 21
Tooting, south London
Raheela Shah is now feeling positive about a Jeremy Corbyn-led Labour. A religion, philosophy and ethics student at King’s College London, she agrees with his views on the link between foreign policy and the rise of Islamist extremism. “When people feel pain and anger they can become prey to those with strong ideologies who manipulate them into very extreme politics,” she said. “We need to think about intervening abroad in the future.”
She does not think, however, that the solution is to have more police on the streets. Resources would be “better spent trying to prevent attacks”.
Addressing Theresa May’s plans for social care, Shah found the proposal – which came under fire from opponents and resulted in a U-turn by the prime minister – a bit “strange”.
“It seems odd to get more older people to pay for their care,” she said. “In my family we tend to think of our relatives caring for us when we’re older, so I’m not sure her policy is a swaying factor for me.”
Shah doesn’t think there is much separating Labour and the Green party. “It’s good that the Greens are pledging more money to schools, but after having a look at their manifesto and at Labour’s, I do think they look very similar.”
Christine Bessant, 63 Poole, Dorset
Christine Bessant thinks it is “brilliant” that Labour will reverse the police cuts and provide more funding for security and the NHS. Living in Poole with her dogs, she is on jobseekers’ allowance after losing the business she shared with her husband when he died four years ago. “I think it will make people feel safer. Cuts have been pretty drastic and I’m all for any improvement of our security, especially in light of the Manchester attack,” she said.
Looking at the Conservative plans for social care, Bessant doesn’t feel “any of it adds up”. “The policies I’m interested in as I approach my pension are not met by the Tories. It feels like Theresa May is trying to alienate the older generation. The idea of using my home to pay for care is worrying. One of my dear friends in her 90s says she would be better off dead rather than sell her house.”
Bessant thought it was “fair” that Ukip wanted to ban face coverings in public, including the niqab, burqa and balaclavas. “When we go to other countries some of them expect us to follow certain dress codes. What Ukip is proposing is similar.”
Reflecting on how she will vote, Bessant said she is heading in a particular direction. “It’s odd, but I’m being swayed by Labour – I can’t quite get my head around it.”
Mark Gilbert, 35 Stoke-on-Trent
Mark Gilbert is not impressed with Theresa May’s plans for social care. “It’s mean to get more older people to pay for their care. What’s going to happen when I need care? I’m going to have to say leave me if I can’t pay for it,” he said.
Speaking about the Conservative proposal to replace free school lunches with free school breakfasts, he says he is not sure whether “they’re taking something away or giving me something”.
“My two-year-old, Joseph, is just starting nursery this week but he’s not old enough to be affected by this yet,” he said. ”I genuinely don’t know if it will be a benefit or a negative to be honest.”
Gilbert, who lives with his fiancée and two sons in Stoke-on-Trent and has worked in the glass and glazing industry for 17 years, is no closer to making a decision on who to vote for.
“The more I read manifestos and the more I look at parties, I genuinely do not know who’s best for running the country. I don’t trust the Conservatives any more and I think Labour have gone too far to the left. As for the Lib Dems, they’re all right. They have a few ideas but they don’t have a strong enough leadership or the characters in their parties to get their ideas across to me.”
