Lib Dems target students in marginals

Liberal Democrats have been urged by their party to capture student support in key seats with a "kick the Tories out" message.

Neil Fawcett, party agent for Oxford West and Abingdon, told delegates at the party's conference in Brighton this week: "Students are much more susceptible than other people to being swayed by a tactical voting message. A very small proportion identify themselves as definite Labour or Liberal Democrat supporters, but a large proportion see themselves as anti-Tory." And he added: "Some will be persuaded to vote because of our policies, but a larger proportion will be persuaded to vote to kick the Tories out."

Party members from constituencies with a large student population went to a training session on how to make the most of the student vote. They heard how leafletting and door-to-door canvassing should all emphasise the tactical voting idea - known by Liberal Democrats as the "squeeze message".

Delegates were also called on to stress to students the importance of using the postal vote where their homes were in marginal seats but they studied in safe ones. Postal vote forms should be distributed to all students apart from known Conservatives, they were told.

Seven seats are being targeted by the Liberal Democrats where they think the student vote could prove crucial. They are Oxford West and Abingdon, Bristol West, Colchester Borough, Cambridge, Edinburgh, Conwy, and Sheffield Hallam.

All are held by the Conservatives except for Cambridge which is held by Labour with the Liberal Democrats in third place.