During a day of appearances on Channel Five, Charles Kennedy has insisted backing his party is not a wasted vote.

Speaking on the Wright Stuff programme on Tuesday morning, the Liberal Democrat leader maintained that with his party "what you see is what you get".

Kennedy said he had seen prime ministers and party leaders come and go during his 22 years in parliament, and he knew the pitfalls of British politics.

He said that since being first elected 1983 "the world has changed out of recognition".

Kennedy insisted that the argument that a vote for the Liberal Democrats was a wasted vote was no longer relevant.

"You don't hear that [argument now] because the evidence of people's senses demonstrates that it isn't a wasted vote."

Gruelling day

The Lib Dem leader is following Tony Blair's example in subjecting himself to gruelling day of TV appearances in a bid to boost his public profile before the general election.

In his first appearance, questions from callers, a studio audience and the show's presenter covered Liberal Democrat tax plans, anti-terror laws and immigration.

Kennedy defended his party's plans to increase income tax to 50 per cent for those earning more than £100,000, saying it would apply to just 1 per cent of the population.

He said the extra revenue would allow the Lib Dems to get rid of tuition and top-up fees, introduce free personal care for the elderly and replace the council tax with a local income tax.

At lunchtime, speaking to a small group on Channel Five news, Kennedy was asked to comment on a quote from the late Hunter S Thompson that "politics is like a death march when you lose too many times".

He responded: "So far I've been winning each time, because I'm still a member of parliament, and I hope in a few months time I will be again."

By the end of the day Kennedy will have appeared on four Channel Five programmes, culminating in an hour-long grilling by viewers.

The schedule is the same as that undertaken by the prime minister last month which saw him confronted by angry voters including housewife Maria Hutchings who harangued Tony Blair about the phasing out of special needs schools during a live TV debate.

Conservative leader Michael Howard will also undergo a similar day on Channel Five before voters go to the polls.