LIBERAL Democrat strategists insist they can still oust Michael Howard from his Folkestone and Hythe constituency even if he becomes the next Conservative party leader.

The seat is an official Lib Dem target and the party has high hopes of seeing its prospective candidate Peter Caroll become the area's MP.

Mr Caroll said he was unfazed by the prospect of Mr Howard becoming leader. He aded: "Mr Howard, if he becomes leader, will have to work enormously hard to try and turn around the fortunes of the ailing Conservative party and his ability to concentrate on his constituency will be reduced."

He said Labour supporters in the area should consider voting tactically if they wanted to displace Mr Howard.

“The message to them is ‘stop this man from being given the chance to ruin the country.’ He remains one of the least popular politicians in the country and comes with a lot of baggage from the 1990s, when he was associated with things like the poll tax.”

Lib Dem party managers have made no secret of their determination to pursue a political “decapitation” strategy by focusing on Mr Howard in much the same way the party did when it succeeded in ousting Chris Patten from his Bath constituency in 1992.

The Lib Dems took control of Shepway Council earlier this year and recently captured a further two seats in council by-elections.

Mr Howard’s majority did rise by six per cent to 5,907 in 2001 but that was thought to be largely down to the collapse of the Referedum Party.

Conservative party strategists will see things differently and regard Mr Howard’s prospects of retaining his seat as being improved if he does become leader.