The Conservatives may never again form a majority government at Westminster, the Liberal Democrat conference has heard.

In a rallying call to the party faithful, election campaign chief Lord Razzall said John Major's administration could prove to be the last Tory government.

And predicting that the next general election would take place on May 5 next year, he said: "We will win more seats and more votes than we did in 2001."

By-election successes and strong opinion poll ratings had left the party in a strong position, Lord Razzall argued.

"All indicators point to success next year," he said.

After an attack on the Tories' record, he said to applause: "I say the previous Conservative government. What I actually mean is the last Conservative government."

With the Lib Dems coming from third place to challenge Labour in recent elections, the campaign supremo said that "the Conservative Party is finished as a serious challenger for government".

"There will come a moment... when the British public loses faith in this Labour government," he continued.

"And when that happens... it will not be [replaced by] a Conservative government. It will be a Liberal Democrat government."