There has been a "seismic shift" in favour of the Liberal Democrats among Britain's ethnic minority communities, Charles Kennedy has claimed.

As campaigning ahead of the June elections continues, the Lib Dem leader is hoping that his party's opposition to the war in Iraq will lead to a boost in support among Britain's Muslim communities.

At a press conference on Thursday morning, Kennedy highlighted an ICM poll that showed the percentage of British Muslims intending to vote Labour has dropped from 75 per cent at the 2001 general election to 38 per cent now. 

Support for the Lib Dems among minority communities has risen from 10 per cent to 36 per cent.

"Liberal Democrat membership in our ethnic communities is growing too," Kennedy said.

"During 2003, 15 per cent of our new members were from minority ethnic groups. Brent East showed we can fight and win in areas dominated by ethnic minorities.

"Of course our opposition to the war in Iraq has made us attractive to many British Muslims. 

"But being attractive to ethnic minority voters is not just about Iraq or asylum or discrimination - health, education and crime are just as important - and we have a distinctive voice on all these issues."

Kennedy added: "Even in Labour's heartlands in the North West, the feedback from our campaign predicts a seismic shift away from Labour."

He also predicted that Sajjad Karim, a Lib Dem candidate for the European parliament in the North West, will become the party's first Muslim MEP.