Party President Baroness Ros Scott raises Lib Dem expectations ahead of General Election

12.15.00pm GMT Fri 12th Feb 2010

Party President Ros Scott with Parliamentary Candidate Chris Took

Speaking to a packed Downtown Diner, Party President Baroness Ros Scott has told the Ashford Liberal Democrats Annual Dinner to "expect some surprises" on election night.

Baroness Scott was the guest of honour for the Liberal Democrat Annual Dinner, held this year in Ashford town centre. Also speaking was parliamentary candidate, Chris Took.

Despite heavy snowfall the day before nearly all of the 70 plus guests managed to attend. They were treated to a three course meal, some rousing speeches and a traditional raffle.

Baroness Scott addressed the party faithful for more than 40 minutes. She spoke about how she became involved in politics, first locally and then nationally, how Charles Kennedy had advised her in 2001 that she would not be in the House of Lords for long as the Labour government would abolish it (10 years later she's still there) and how general elections always turn up a surprise result or two and there was no reason why Ashford could not be the 2010 headline maker.

Speaking later, Chris Took continued the election discussion. He explained how with hundreds raised for campaign funds in one evening, boundary changes reducing the Conservative numbers by more than 30001, a depressed Labour vote, a growing town, being the official opposition in the council chamber and having a dynamic and enthusiastic team they had "all the elements required to win the seat."

The evening ended with Chris Took whisking Ros and her husband Mark back to Ashford Station to catch the last train back to London. Baroness Scott's next engagement was a flight to Bangladesh for an international conference, just 20 hours after speaking to the Ashford faithful.