Clegg says Lib Dems can overtake Labour

6.28.23pm BST (GMT +0100) Wed 24th Jun 2009

•[Jun 24] George Parker, FT Political Editor, writes: 'NICK Clegg, leader of the Liberal Democrats, believes his party can overtake Labour at the next election, as "big things can happen" when a government is defeated in the battle of ideas and loses touch with the public.

In a bullishly confident interview, Mr Clegg said on Tuesday it was "not beyond the realms of possibility" that his party could push Labour into third place and become the official opposition to a David Cameron government.

. . The party has been talking to Barack Obama's campaign team and have been inspired by the US president's drive into previously hostile Republican states. Lib Dem campaign operations are being built up, sometimes almost from scratch, in northern towns and cities, where the party's presence is almost non-existent, to capture what they expect will be a big swing against Labour. That would mark an expansion out of the swath of gentrified or university city seats the party won at the last election and into seats in areas such as St Helens, Burnley, Liverpool, Hull and Newcastle.

Nevertheless, the Lib Dem leader would only be facing Mr Cameron over the dispatch box after the next election if Labour, which now has 349 seats, imploded. Mr Clegg believes that remains an outside possibility but many on the Labour benches fear their party is heading into dangerous political waters.'

Related Links:

• Clegg says Lib Dems can overtake Labour [FT Jun 23]

• Daily Mail feature on Nick Clegg [Jun 21]