Liberal Democrtas gear up for next electoral test

12.00.00am BST (GMT +0100) Sun 13th Jun 2004

Following the successes in the Local and European Elections across the country the Liberal Democrats have started to gear up for the next electoral test - the Leicester South Parliamentary by-election. Last South Liberal Democrats have this week selected Parmjit Singh Gill to fight the by-election caused by the sad death of Jim Marshall.

Parmjit Singh Gill is already a Local Councillor in Leicester and stood in Leicester South in the 2001 General Election. He increased the Liberal Democrat vote by 3.4% at the expense of the Labour Party who dropped 3.5%, the Conservatives also dropped 0.6% in 2001.

Liberal Democrat Leader Charles Kennedy has welcomed the selection. "Parmjit is an excellent local choice and he will be a powerful voice in parliament for all the communities in Leicester South. The Lib Dems will be the clear and only challengers to Labour in this parliamentary by-election, the Conservatives will not be in the race."

Leicester South represents a great opportunity for the Liberal Democrats, who won last years Brent East Parliamentary by-election which was a less good prospect. Brent East saw an increase in the Liberal Democrat vote by 28.5% on a 29% swing from the Labour Party. The Conservatives again also lost votes in the Brent East by-election

Parmjit Singh Gill said, "Like in Brent East the main issues will be Iraq, top-up fees, health and schools. If elected I be a local MP who will work hard for everyone in our area."

The media are predicting a possible Liberal Democrat victory in the Leicester South by-election:

Leicester South.. could give Liberal Democrats the chance to follow up their triumph last September at Brent East. Analysis by PA News shows they would have comfortably taken the seat on the basis of votes cast in the constituency [last year].. Liberal Democrats averaged 10,838 (42.2%), Labour 6,997 (27.2%), Tories 5,203 (20.3%). Press Association

Labour strategists admit that.. they have a tough job to hold Charles Kennedy's party at bay.. the Liberal Democrats have a strong local base.. in the Leicester South area they have done particularly well, scoring 42% of the vote.. The Conservatives will face a fight to avoid falling into third place. The Times

Lib Dems are the largest group on Leicester city council.. the party would comfortably take the seat on the basis of votes in last May's city council elections. The Guardian

... the Lib Dems have won key council seats like Spinney Hill and Stoneygate, and war in Iraq has fuelled anti-Government feeling. Lib Dem strategists believe they are favourites to win this time. Leicester Mercury

LABOUR is in serious danger of losing one of its safe seats in a by-election.. in Leicester South.. with the Liberal Democrats best placed to pull off a rout.. The last by-election in Brent East last September saw the Lib-Dems overturn a similar majority. London Evening Standard

Anti-war sentiment will help [the Lib Dems] grab the seat in a by-election. Daily Express