IT'S official - politics is cool. Gone are the days when young people were apathetic about current affairs. Today's youths, it appears, are becoming increasingly interested in politics.

A poll of 500 people aged between 16 and 20 found that an impressive 81 per cent felt strongly about political issues such as crime and education.

Three out of four said they discussed current affairs with friends and family, with global terrorism heading the list of big issues.

Most of those questioned said they would sign a petition or contact a politician about an issue affecting them directly.

Local youngsters have already shown this in recent months.

Pupils at Bournemouth School signed petitions to the Home Secretary to show their disapproval at follow pupil and asylum seeker student Andrei Bazanov from being deported to Moldova.

Schoolchildren at the recently closed Homefield School have also banded together in an attempt to see it re-opened and children from Corfe Hill School signed petitions and made banners to save Leeson House from closure.

And now celebrities are helping to promote worldwide issues among young people.

While the singers who performed for Band Aid 20 have brought the issue of world poverty to the forefront and new Make Poverty History wrist bands are circulating in the celebrity scene, Radio 1 have seen stars from across the spectrum donning blue anti-bullying wrist bands.

Councillor Rachel Palma, of Kinson North ward, was at 24 the youngest candidate to be elected onto Bournemouth Borough Council.

She said: "I think it is a myth that young people aren't interested in politics. They have very strong beliefs, stronger than a lot of adults. But they are just put off by the whole bureaucracy of the system and how hard it is to get into."

She said it was "essential" for young people to be involved in local and national politics. "Bournemouth would be a much better place if there were more young people involved in local politics."

First published: February 9