Last week Labour held its annual conference in Liverpool, the first since Andy Burnham became Prime Minister. His speech followed a familiar script: past politicians had let the country down, and he was the one to put it right - though it was refreshing that he included himself in those who had wronged us. While much of the mainstream media coverage may have left us feeling far removed from his priorities, a sizeable chunk of his speech was in fact aimed directly at people our age. For my fellow peers, here is what was promised, what it could mean for us, and what remains unclear.
As Burnham started his speech with housing, its only right to do the same in this article. He wished for a return to the United Kingdom of the past, one where buying a home isn't a dream but rather a guarantee. He first acknowledged that there is a lack of homes in the first place to buy, but also that we can't afford it even if there was. He suggested that our generation has it tougher than any before, and as hard as one works and saves, we are still "looking at a student loan which never gets any smaller" - a statement so straightforward I can't tell whether it reflects worse on mainstream media not leading with it, or me having for having to tell you.
It is here where he made two big promises, the first to build more housing, and the second - more importantly for us - a new "Your First Home" scheme, which reduces the deposit required to buy a home, and will "open up home ownership to those not backed by the bank of mum and dad" - a statement which some students may see as funny, and others as a dig. As good as this sounds, building takes time, and the speech gave no timetable for when we might feel any difference.
The education sector saw some of the greatest proposed changes. Burnham said the school system had been too focused on the university route and promised equal status for academic and technical education. His plan includes a 45-day work placement between 16 and 18 and an apprenticeship at 18. The Work Foundation, which ran events at the conference, says nearly a million young people are not in education, employment or training, the highest level since 2013 and that entry-level jobs have fallen by almost half over the last decade - the same job market many of us will be graduating into. These changes may not directly affect those of us already at university.
However, it is worth knowing that there is some attention being paid to the entry-level job market to get us a seat at the adult table.
Despite everyone at university being of voting age, it's hard not to feel disconnected from politics today. That is ludicrous when you think about it for more than two seconds, given that we are the people who will be voting our peers in, or being voted in ourselves, from here on. Burnham wants to change that, starting with a new national commission on electoral reform with the promise that Labour will go into the next election with a manifesto pledge to change the voting system. It will be interesting to see what trend the Prime Minister's social media team gets him to make us feel heard until then, perhaps a 'Get ready with me to go to PMQs Q&A'
Some changes will be felt now, with VAT coming off electricity bills from the start of October through the end of March next year - so for any readers that don't have a bills package, just remember the money you saved next time you're contemplating whether to buy another red pint. Furthermore, the infamous cutting of bus journey costs starting next year may not prove useful to us currently living in the Toon - with our £1 21-and-under singles - but may do so for any readers who have to go home and pay £3 for a single journey, such as myself.
The £9,790 elephant in the room.
Despite trying to link helping young people buy a home as a solution for student loans, the fact is that they're unrelated. Many of us won't even consider buying a home until our thirties, and with fees rising to £10,050 next year (and higher in the years following), it's a shame he could so blatantly skip over such a key issue - especially considering it's clear he's both aware of the issue, and yet still trying to gain the youth vote.
So, what's it to us?
More than the headlines suggested, but less than we might have hoped.
It was nice to see a government finally throw the youngest dog in the house a treat or two, but it is clear the older dogs still get most of the attention. There's a reason young dogs bark the most, and its time they get their fair share of the attention, because owners who neglect their dogs shouldn't be surprised when they wander off to other parties… or homes, sorry.