Interviewed in the Times, Charles Kennedy claims his party has used the campaign to set out a positive vision for the country.

"I started exhausted and slowly got up the energy levels as it has gone on," he said.

He adds: "Liberal Democrats are at least making a fist of this election, fighting it positively, trying to stick to what they see as the priorities and talking about them."

The Independent reports that the Lib Dems are on course for their best result for 80 years.