The UK's historic 2024 General Election: A week on

It's officially been a week since the UK historically changed Parliamentary hands for the first time in 14 years. I was four when the Labour Party was last in government, and surprisingly have little recollection of their time in Number 10 so this is an exciting time for my generation. Whilst I'm usually spouting about music, today's news has to centre around the election as politics affects everyone and is especially important for young people. Additionally, I was lucky enough to help film the election for Sky News and wanted to talk about my experience.

Despite only studying journalism officially for one academic year, I've tossed my name in the ring for any opportunity that has been sent my way. This is brilliant as I'm hopefully going to get much helpful experience, but also rather daunting when you actually get accepted to partake in said experience. All I know is that I completed a Google form for helping with the General Election for Sky News, and the next thing a massive box full of complicated equipment showed up at my door (even the DPD guy looked confused).

Meridian Leisure Centre, Louth, where the count took place.

After a few weeks of emails, one rehearsal, packing bags and charging equipment (as well as roping in my flatmate to help me) it was the 4th of July and I was on my way to Louth and Horncastle in my little red, slightly busted, 2004 Corsa. We were there before the polls had closed and we watched as people filtered in and out of the polling station, many seemingly on their way back from work and school etc. It was empowering to see people using their right to vote at such a crucial election, and you could very much feel people's desire for change.

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All the volunteers at the count, held at the Meridian Leisure Centre, Louth, were working extremely hard to get votes verified and counted whilst the press watched coverage of the election happening up and down the country. It was pretty clear early on how the election would pan out as a majority, however, the amount of Reform UK votes was rather shocking. It was also surprising to see the small amount of votes for the Green Party in contrast to what I think many people, specifically students and young people, were expecting. I understood the voting statistics as the public being in split minds, either tactically voting for the party predicted to win or, ignoring the prospect of tactical voting and going with the politician they liked the most (which I believe explains the large amount of Reform UK votes).

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At about 3 am, after eating snack after snack, wandering the count hall many times, and getting to know the Official Monster Raving Loony Party candidate (Iconic Arty Pole), we got word that the declaration was about to happen. We quickly moved all of the equipment and set up in the hall recording live the victory of conservative candidate Victoria Atkins. After her elected speech, each candidate spoke about their campaigns and thanked everyone who helped them along the way. This is the part you do not see as a member of the public, the sheer strength and ethic these candidates and their friends and family have to go through in political campaigns, especially ones as significant as this.

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Each thank you speech really grounded the candidates and gave me a lot of hope for the next years of government. It showed me that for many, politics is not just a battle for power and money but instead, a real way to connect and help the communities that they love. As important and exciting as the declaration was, the relief and beauty in these speeches were arguably the best things to come out of the night.

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I drove back through Lincolnshire at around 5 am after packing up, listening to "Flowers In the Window", Travis, as I drove over the Humber Bridge (which Iconic Arty Pole worked on apparently) and realised what a privilege it was to have filmed history that day. I say filmed, as everyone who voted or counted or worked within this election has made history, and I feel positive about the future that we are paving the way for.

My gorgeous view of Lincolnshire on the drive back home post-election.