The Liberal Democrats could be back in power within five years, the party’s new leader will tell activists today.
Tim Farron will use his main conference address to urge members to fight for the chance to return to government in another coalition at the 2020 general election.
But party grandee Sir Menzies Campbell has said voters will not believe the party – which has just eight MPs – could return to power so quickly.
Aides to Mr Farron said he would not rule out another coalition with the Tories, insisting all options remained open.
But they indicated Labour – in its current guise under Jeremy Corbyn – would have to move more on the economy than the Conservatives for a partnership to be on the cards.
Asked whether Mr Farron believed the 2020 aim to be a realistic prospect, they said the chance of Labour winning enough seats for a majority was far less likely than the Lib Dems picking up enough to go into coalition.
Briefing reporters ahead of the speech, the aides stressed no target number had been set as it is still “early days” in Mr Farron’s leadership, but emphasised the need to be ambitious.
They also said the first electoral challenge was not 2020, but next year’s elections, including for the Scottish Parliament.
Mr Farron is expected to say: “There is nothing grubby or unprincipled about wanting to win, nothing noble about defeat.
“Losing robs you of your chance to make people’s lives better.”
In a radio interview before Mr Farron’s speech, Sir Menzies said he believed the journey back to power would be 10 years.
He added: “I think if we go around telling people that we’re going to hold the balance of power or that we’re going to do well enough to be in government then people will be somewhat cynical or sceptical about that.”
The comments came as it emerged Lib Dem councillor Jennifer Churchill, who represents Teddington on Richmond Borough Council, has announced that she has defected to the Labour party.