Interviewed in the FT today Charles Kennedy says the result of tomorrow's by-election will shape party strategy.

The Liberal Democrat leader is confident that his party will leapfrog the Tories into second place: but stops short of predicting an outright victory.

As the campaign enters its final phase party workers are now vying over which candidate has the biggest house.

The Conservatives claim that as Labour's candidate, Robert Evans, lives in a substantial detached house in Surrey, he is unfit to be the local MP.

Meanwhile, Labour, the Tories and Ken Livingstone have criticised Sarah Teather, the Liberal Democrat candidate, because she lives outside the seat in a modest flat in Archway, North London.