Charles Kennedy, buoyed by the Lib Dems' poll success, continues to place himself as a radical alternative and opposition to Labour.

"If you want investment in education and schools pensions to remain the same, you vote Labour. If you want it to get worse vote for William Hague's Conservatives. But if you want more investment in education and pensions, you have to vote Liberal Democrat," he said.

Kennedy yesterday attributed the success of his well-reviewed campaign to the calculated risks, putting increased taxation, his personal honesty and the party's role in devolved government at the centre of the Lib Dem campaign.

He believes that his party will seize over 50 seats.