Davey: Optimistic

The Liberal Democrats are now the only party able to unite Britain, it has been claimed.

Addressing the party's conference on Wednesday, local government spokesman Edward Davey insisted that only his party could defeat Labour.

His comments came a day after Lib Dem campaign chief Lord Razzall predicted Charles Kennedy would become prime minister.

However, the party leader himself has been playing down suggestions that he could be forming a government after the next general election.

"It's a mug's game for me to predict numbers of seats, but I do think we are on course to achieve what we have always said we want to - a substantial hike in the number of votes for the Liberal Democrats and therefore the number of seats we will have in the next parliament," he told BBC Radio 4.

But at the Bournemouth gathering, the party has been raising expectations about its performance at the next Westminster election.

Outgoing president Lord Dholakia said the party was "ready and prepared" for the next election.

"We are out to change the face of two party politics in this country. Let no one stand in our way," he said.

And Davey said the Lib Dems were "the only party able to unite Britain".

"Liberal Democrats taking on Labour in the cities, Liberal Democrats challenging Conservatives in the country. We are the only 'one nation' party now."

He added that "with most of urban Britain a Tory-free zone, only Liberal Democrats can defeat Labour".

"If we set our sights high, a Liberal Britain is within our grasps," Davey claimed.