VICTORY for the Liberal Democrats in the Brent East by-election has been described as a “huge boost” for the party’s efforts to win their first seat in Kent.

Folkestone and Hythe Lib Dem Parliamentary hopeful Peter Carroll said the result was a disaster for both Labour and the Tories.

“It is an indictment of their ability to campaign that the Conservatives, half way through a parliamentary term, have failed to make any inroads in a by-election,” he said.

The Lib Dems have made no secret that they are targeting Michael Howard in the hope of making a long-awaited parliamentary breakthrough in Kent, building on the success of May’s local election results when they took control of Shepway Council. The party needs a six per cent swing to unseat the Tory MP.

Mr Carroll, who spent several days helping campaign in Brent East, said the swing of nearly 30 per cent to the Liberal Democrats was a “profound result.”

“I met countless people on the doorstep who said they were disappointed with Labour and were voting for us but not just tactically. The war on Iraq was an important factor but not a dominant one. People are fed up with the Government for a number of reasons.”