Charles Kennedy has branded the Conservatives unfit for government and condemned an "Americanised" focus on the personality of politicians rather than the issues that count.

In an interview on BBC Radio 2, Kennedy claimed he was the leader of the real opposition in the UK.

"We have got to distinguish ourselves not just from the government but from the other opposition party of the day because I think we could do that job better than they can," he said.

The Lib Dem leader branded Labour a "disappointment" and the Conservatives a "disgrace" and damned both for the "kind of talk" that washes over most voters.

"The tone is one of genuine disappointment with Labour but I think it's one of real disgrace with the Conservatives because I really don't think, and I don't think the Conservatives think this either, that they could form a government on their present set-up," he continued.

The Lib Dems' pitch for a radical opposition role comes as a BBC poll finds that 58 per cent of voters believe that "none of the main political parties really represents my views" - among young voters the perception is far worse, rising to two thirds.

"The other two parties they have rowed about tax cuts and national insurance and billions here and billions there but a lot of that kind of talk just washes by people so then they start focusing on the personalities. Unfortunately British politics has become more Americanised over the years ... play the man not the ball, you know, too much of that happening" he said.

Kennedy predicted that voters would implement a form of "do-it-yourself proportional representation" with increasing numbers using their vote tactically.

The BBC's poll shows that to date 68 per cent of voters have never voted tactically.