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They were radicals with an ambition to change the world in the '60s, Trotskyite agitators in the '80s, but today's students have a reputation for being more interested in Countdown than communism.

But I can tell you student political activism is alive and well and currently residing in Gateshead.

That's the venue for the . A thousand students have invaded The Sage and the surrounding hotels and bars.

And as their Conference coincides with a General Election campaign, they're determined to flex their political muscles.

Their tactics may not impress the Class of 68 or 88 though.

I spoke to one student delegate who told me picket lines and sit-ins were a little dated.

Instead students today, she said, think they can achieve more by getting "a seat at the table" with the decision-makers.

It's hardly manning the barricades, but I suppose it is worth asking whether the student rebellions of the past really did transform society?

And there's no question that students can have an influence at this General Election.

In the North East they could be critical in deciding Labour's fate in the City of Durham and the Newcastle seats, as the Liberal Democrats are snapping at their heels.

The Lib Dems certainly targeted student voters pretty successfully in 2005, and they're intent on doing it again.

Labour clearly understand that though. One of the first visits of the campaign was by the Higher Education Minister, David Lammy, who met students in Newcastle.

And as the NUS they're determined to make the most of their influence.

told me they're going to "explode" the myth of student apathy this time.

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In particular they want them to say they won't vote for an increase in tuition fees during the next parliament.

They also want to see the voting age lowered to 16.

Certainly, the students I spoke to were all politically engaged, but of course they're just the tip of a very big iceberg. Statistically, young people are still the least likely to vote.

And the nature of student politics may be more complex and harder to predict than when I was at University (yes I know that was a long time ago - there's no need to get personal).

Although the conference in Gateshead had its share of left-leaning exhibition stands, the Socialist Worker and the like, both Newcastle and Durham Universities have thriving Conservative societies.

So it may not be straightforward to predict just how the student vote will influence the outcome in the region's University seats.

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