THE so-called ‘Nick Clegg bounce’ has boosted Liberal Democrat hopes of retaining Westmorland and Lonsdale at the General Election next month.

But while the rise in the party leader’s poll rating has heartened campaigners and supporters, it has been dismissed by the other parties’ candidates in South Lakeland.

The seat, the 13th on the Tory’s list of must-win constituencies if it is to gain power, was won by the Liberal Democrats in 2005 with a majority of just 267 votes after five decades under Conservative control.

Lib Dem candidate Tim Farron said: “The response to Nick Clegg’s performance in the leaders’ debate has been very positive.

“People we have talked to on the doorstep who said they were considering voting for the Liberal Democrats are now telling us they definitely will.”

Jonathan Todd, Labour’s candidate said: “The Liberal Democrat bounce has eaten away at Conservative support, but Labour support has been solid.

“This shows that people want change but not the kind of change that the Conservatives offer.

“The challenge for Labour is to continue to spell out why our economic management offers the best hope for change.”

Conservative candidate Gareth McKeever said: “Westmorland and Lonsdale is a seat we have to win if we are going to form a Government.

“The Nick Clegg bounce makes a hung parliament more likely and in that situation Gordon Brown is likely to stay on as Prime Minister.”

John Mander, UKIP: “All this talk about the Nick Clegg bounce is more showmanship than serious politics.

“Mr Clegg is leader of one of the three old faded parties which have sold our UK sovereignty to Brussels by signing up to the Lisbon Treaty “Whichever party comes to power is irrelevant to us.”