Lib Dems hope for surprise gains

The Liberal Democrats insisted the party was set to do far better than a disappointing exit poll performance initially suggested.

Party chairman Matthew Taylor said it was poised for victory in "a whole series of seats" beyond the two gains suggested by the poll.

He told the BBC there had been a "big swing" to Charles Kennedy's party from Labour that would see it make surprise gains.

The exit poll predicted a 22% share of the vote for the party.

"We look like winning Cardiff Central, it looks like we are winning Bristol West, it looks like we are winning East Dunbartonshire, it looks like we are winning a whole series of seats going rather beyond the swing that has been suggested," Mr Taylor said.

"There is a big swing to the Liberal Democrats from Labour; the Conservatives look like getting their third worst result in a century."

Party president Simon Hughes added: "If we get a Labour majority but with this share of the vote, they would have lost their authority in terms of who voted for them - barely one in three of the population."