Kennedy denies Scots poll drop

Charles Kennedy said his party would win more seats

Liberal Democrat leader Charles Kennedy has predicted his party will win more votes UK-wide in the general election, despite the latest opinion poll putting them at 9% in Scotland.

The System Three poll suggested the Lib Dems were 4% down on what they achieved in Scotland in the last election.

The poll for The Herald newspaper suggested Labour were on 50%, the Scottish National Party on 25%, the Tories on 12%, and the Scottish Socialist Party at 3%.

The opinion poll contacted 3,000 people across Scotland between 18-21 May.

The concentration of our votes is sometimes masked by the way the sampling is done

Lib Dem leader Charles Kennedy

But Mr Kennedy, interviewed on BBC Radio Scotland, pointed to other poll findings that put his party on 17% UK-wide.

He argued that Liberal Democrats could bring "added value" to the public policy agenda by their influence, citing the experience in Scotland where, he argued, they had been able to achieve reforms like the abolition of upfront tuition fees.

"The more votes we get at this election, and I think we will increase our UK national share of the vote, and the more MPs we get - and I think we are due to increase our share of MPs at Westminster - the more these policies become all the more difficult for the government of the day to resist."

Mr Kennedy argued that polls tended not to pick up the full strength of support for the Liberal Democrats in their areas such as the Highlands, Borders and the north-east coast of Scotland were the party was a major force.

More buoyant

"The concentration of our votes is sometimes masked by the way the sampling is done," he said.

"It's difficult in widespread scattered rural areas like these to get as accurate a picture."

"I think we are more buoyant than we were last time - and we have the added credibility, in the Scottish and Welsh context, that comes with having government ministers", said Mr Kennedy.

Mr Kennedy ruled out a coalition with Labour following the Westminster elections, despite the party's experience in the Scottish Executive.

Stated ambition

As he brought his campaign north of the border, Mr Kennedy said the ministerial role of Lib Dems in Scotland had only arisen because the party had campaigned for proportional representation in the Scottish Parliament election.

He said it was "well-nigh impossible" to envisage such a coalition.

"That is not my stated ambition, as it was with my predecessor under different circumstances.

"We'll do better if we campaign and operate as an independent opposition political party."

Mr Kennedy's comments came as the Lib Dems unveiled plans for increased investment in the NHS including a pay rise for low-paid staff.

The party said it would increase the wage of the lowest paid workers by £1,000 a year on average, to help retain NHS staff.

William Hague predicted the Tories would win Scottish seats

Meanwhile, Conservative leader William Hague predicted that the Tories will win back seats in Scotland at the general election.

However, if the results of the System Three opinion poll are accurate it would again leave the Tory party with no seats.

Campaigning on Wednesday, Labour attacked the Tories, accusing them of threatening to privatise Scotland's universities and driving down standards in schools.

The Tories in turn attacked plans to establish a European army and defend Scottish regiments which they fear may be under threat.

And the Scottish National Party is outlining its commitment to strong public services.