EAST Lancashire solicitor Sajjid Karim's bid to be the first Liberal Democrat Asian Euro-MP was given a boost on Sunday when his party leader Charles Kennedy declared him a winner.

He said the Brierfield-born 33-year-old was on track to book his ticket to the European Parliament in June.

In his address to the Liberal Democrat's spring conference in Southport, the Liberal Democrat leader declared that the European Parliament elections on June 10 could return the party's first non-white parliamentarian.

He said: "In the European elections, here in the North West, Saj Karim has a great chance of becoming our first Asian MEP. Now that would really be something!"

Mr Karim lives in Simonstone and runs a solicitor's practice in Nelson.

Liberal Democrat campaign managers are setting their sights on gaining at least two of the nine seats up for grabs in the North West.

They are hoping that former Pendle councillor Mr Karim will join existing MEP Chris Davies in the European Parliament.

There are thought to be some 160,000 Muslim voters in the region, many of whom say they have lost trust in Labour and have little faith in the Conservatives. The failure of the other main parties to adopt a non-white candidate in a winnable position is expected to boost the chances for Mr Karim.

At the conference Mr Kennedy also claimed that 36 per cent of British Muslims nationally now back the Liberal Democrats: "We Liberal Democrats have a vision for Britain. And - right now - our party has a real chance to make a difference."