Sir, – I would like to offer the perspective of one often ignored in political conversations, by which I mean that of a younger person.

There are a number of things which dissuade myself and my friends from voting. One major reason can be how confusing politics seems. But another is the culture which surrounds it: one of negativity, cynicism and a desire to reveal the worst in one another.

I am disappointed to read week-in week-out letters in this newspaper from one political campaign to another designed solely to criticise an opposition politician.

No doubt, if this letter is printed, it will have yet more complaints alongside it that the Conservative candidate – who has visited my school and actually made the effort to speak to younger people – is "not local" and therefore not to be welcomed.

This is exactly why people dislike politics at my age, and why I am the only one of my friends voting. I do not see the other candidates reaching out to my age group to ask what my life is like – why should I care that someone was not born here? In short, I care whether they have the answers to big problems.

I thought it might therefore be helpful if I outlined what matters to young voters.

I do not want to be in debt when I grow up, and I do not want my parents' generation to borrow money on my behalf.

I had good schools and hospitals growing up and I would like my children one day to have the same.

I have a military history in my family and I do not want my country to be vulnerable to other countries like Russia which do not seem very much like my own – it does not take a history A-level to know that this world will not always be safe. Most of all, I want people to think of where I am from as kind and welcoming.

What happens today nationally affects tomorrow locally. I would like to think of my home town as the kind of place that when the future of Britain was so precariously on edge, its residents did not simply debate whether or not someone was from Yorkshire.

I'd like to think they actually thought about how to make our country a better place. As a great man once said: it’s alright for some of you – some of you won’t be here in 30 or 40 years. So please: let’s make this election about big ideas, not petty complaints.

LUCY WILLIAMS, Leyburn.