A TORY boss has declared Westmorland and Lonsdale a seat his party will have to win if David Cameron is to stand a chance of forming the next Government.

Conservative Party chairman Eric Pickles revealed the constituency was one of a number of key seats being targeted in a bid to win power at the General Election on May 6.

Mr Pickles said: “Westmorland and Lonsdale is one of the seats we hope to win if we are going to change the government and we will put everything into taking our message to the people of South Lakeland.”

The political big guns are expected to descend on the constituency as both Tories and Lib Dems battle to secure victory in one of Britain’s most marginal seats.

Sir Menzies Campbell and Shirley Williams will visit the consitutency in support of Lib Dem candidate Tim Farron and Conservative leader David Cameron is understood to be considering a whistle-stop visit to boost the prospects of Tory hopeful Gareth McKeever.

Westmorland and Lonsdale is said to be the Conservatives’ 14th most winnable marginal seat - and one they must secure if they are to stand a chance of forming the next government.

The party held seat for 50 years but lost to the Liberal Democrats in 2005 by just 267 votes.

Former leader and foreign affairs spokesman William Hague is also expected to take a break from campaigning in the neighbouring Richmondshire constituency to help campaign for Mr McKeever.

As an early show of Tory determination, Mr Pickles will visit the farmers’ market in Milnthorpe tomorrow to kickstart Mr McKeever’s election bid.

“We realise we don’t have all the answers and very much want to listen to what local people are saying and thinking,” said Mr Pickles.

The Lib Dems said leader Nick Clegg was said to also be considering putting in an appearance in Westmorland and Lonsdale.

In a ringing endorsement of his candidate’s record as an MP, Mr Clegg told the Gazette: “ I never cease to be staggered by the fact that Tim has dealt with a record-breaking 30,000-plus pieces of constituency casework - his hard work is simply breathtaking.

“As the party spokesman for Defra, Tim is respected on all sides as Parliament's strongest, most effective and passionate voice for rural communities.”

Other candidates already declared for Westmorland and Lonsdale are Labour’s Jonathan Todd and John Mander of the UK Independence Party.

But the battle for dominance in the constituency is expected to end up a two-horse race between the Lib Dems and Conservatives.

As if to emphasise the futility of the Labour cause, none of the party’s big guns are planning to visit Westmorland and Lonsdsale during the campaign.