TEENAGERS in Dorset are being asked to make their mark and influence the topics debated in the House of Commons.

The Members of Youth Parliament (MYP) for the South West are calling on youngsters to decide the five subjects they will discuss in the Commons Chamber.

This year will see the third annual event when aspiring young politicians take over the green benches for a day on November 4 to stand up for the views and rights of their peers.

Every person between 11 and 18 living in the UK is eligible to vote by ticking five of the 42 choices on the ballot paper.

The ballot will be circulated to all schools and youth centres in Dorset by the local MYP.

It is also available online at <&bh"https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/ukyp1">www.surveymonkey.com/s/ukyp1<&eh> and voting closes on October 16.

Young people voting will have a direct influence on the topics brought to the attention of decision makers in November, including party leaders and policy makers.

This year MYPs are hoping to reach more than 100,000 voters nationally.

The three Dorset MYPs attending the House of Commons are Dorchester Middle School pupil Tom Easterbrook, 13, Sturminster Newton School pupil Abi Fox, 15, and Ferndown Upper School student Moya Dunne, 14.

Tom said: “The ballot papers are a great idea and make me feel I have a mandate to debate at the House of Commons in November.”

They will be supported in their constituency by their deputy MYPs, including Imogen Barnard, 14, a pupil at the Woodroffe School in Lyme Regis.

She said: I am confident that they will represent young people in Dorset brilliantly, but they will need your help.

“The help they will need from you is to ensure that the topics that are debated are what young people want as it is limited time in the House and only three topics can be debated.”

Topics include Young people in control of all youth budgets, fund an education programme to reduce gun and knife crime, and mutual respect: Improve the relationship between police and young people.

A full list and further details can be found at <&bh"http://www.ukyouthparliament.org.uk">www.ukyouth parliament.org.uk<&eh> The House of Commons debate is part of Parliament Week from October 31 to November 6 It is a new national awareness week that aims to build greater awareness, understanding and engagement with parliamentary democracy in the UK.

Visit parliamentweek.org<&eh>