By-Elections Show Lib Dems Set For Strong Challenge At Election

3.00.00pm UTC (GMT +0000) Fri 16th Jul 2004

Charles Kennedy with the Lib Dem's newest MP Parmjit Gill

Commenting on the Leicester South and Birmingham Hodge Hill by-election results, Hampshire MEP Chris Huhne said that they showed that the Liberal Democrats were now challengers to Labour in urban areas and would mount the strongest fight at any general election since 1923.

'These results explode the Conservatives' claim to be the only alternative to Labour, since the Tories were pushed into third place even though they had held both of these two parliamentary seats within the last thirty years' said Mr Huhne.

'Following a record local government share of the vote which pushed Labour into third place, and european elections that showed the Liberal Democrats as the only major party gaining votes and seats, it is clear that we are set to make further gains at the general election'.

'We now have a clear three-party system in Britain. The Liberal Democrats cannot be swept aside any longer as bit players' said Mr Huhne. 'As Labour voters lose faith in Tony Blair, they are turning to the Liberal Democrats, not the Conservatives'.

The Liberal Democrats now have more seats than in any parliament since 1929 and Mr Huhne predicted further gains next year.

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