Top Tory predicts Lib Dem Gain from Labour in Edinburgh North & Leith

8.00.00pm GMT Sat 9th Jan 2010

The invisible Conservative in Edinburgh North & Leith was delivered another blow today after the top Tory blogger, Iain Dale, predicted that the Liberal Democrats and NOT the Conservatives were set to beat Labour here in Edinburgh North & Leith.

In a list of predictions for the upcoming General Election, the senior and influential Tory, who has also stood for the Conservatives in General Elections, said the Liberal Democrats were set to increase their numbers of MPs, both here in Scotland and across the UK as a whole.

Included in that list was a prediction that local Liberal Democrat Kevin Lang would beat Labour and become our area's new local Member of Parliament here in Edinburgh North & Leith.

The news comes just a few months after Conservative councillor and former General Election Candidate Peter Crearer admitted that the Liberal Democrats were the clear challengers to Labour in this constituency.

Alex Cole-Hamilton, the local Liberal Democrat campaign manager said,

"We know the Conservatives have already given up on trying to win Edinburgh North & Leith. Their campaign has been invisible as they privately admit they are fighting with the SNP for third and fourth place.

"Tory blogger Iain Dale's prediction that popular local resident Kevin Lang is set to beat Labour and become our new local MP in Edinburgh North & Leith shows the growing confidence that the Liberal Democrats are now set to win in this area come polling day.

"However, we know that Labour will fight tooth and nail to hold on and we are taking nothing for granted. That is why the Liberal Democrats will be fighting our biggest ever campaign here in Edinburgh North & Leith over the coming months."