But the Lib Dems hope that their anti-war stance will pay off in some seats very different from the poor city constituencies where new migrants settle.

ECONOMIST: Iraq and the election: Polite protest | The

The Lib Dems hope that in Labour-held Bristol West, which is one of the few three-way marginal seats, an affluent, well-educated and left-leaning electorate will desert Labour over the war.

ECONOMIST: Iraq and the election: Polite protest | The

Nearly all the constituencies which the Lib Dems could hope to gain in future general elections are Tory-held, and the key to winning them would be tactical Labour voting for the Lib Dem candidate.

ECONOMIST: Politics

Jill Hope, who is standing for the Lib Dems, said Labour was simply "frightening people".

BBC: Corby candidates in Kettering Hospital 'downgrade' row

That system, which redistributes votes from eliminated candidates until someone crosses the 50% line, is marginally helpful to smaller parties, and very helpful for those, such as the Lib Dems, who might hope to form electoral pacts, as it allows supporters to give allies their second preferences.

ECONOMIST: Bagehot

Lib Dem policies sent a "message of hope and fair values which I believe are very attractive to many people in the country, " he said.

BBC: Lib Dems 'providing hope' - Clegg

Opening a debate on reforming the criminal justice system on 15 July 2010, Lib Dem peer Lord Thomas of Gresford said the proposals offered hope of a "progressive and a radical reform of penal policy" which will "help both the victim and the offender".

BBC: Prison reform plans welcomed by Lib Dem peer