'I want to be PM' says Nick Clegg; Lib Dem insists he's in contention.

Byline: DANIEL BENTLEY

LIBERAL Democrat leader Nick Clegg insisted he was a serious challenger for Number 10 as he declared: "I want to be Prime Minister."

The Liberal Democrat leader admitted many people do not regard his party as genuine contenders for power - but urged them to think again.

His aides boldly claimed their private research suggested they could yet overtake both Labour and the Tories to win the next general election.

They currently have less than 10% of seats in the Commons.

Mr Clegg told the conference: "I know there are people who agree with a lot of what we've got to say but who still don't vote Liberal Democrat.

"You don't think we're contenders.

I urge you to think again."

In the closing speech to the Bournemouth gathering, Mr Clegg deliberately ducked coalition questions as he insisted he was going after power.

But he has also steadfastly refused to rule out an alliance in the event of a hung Parliament.

Aides to the leader insisted their polling suggested so many voters were undecided that the next election was wide open.

The Lib Dems have 63 MPs. They would need more than 300 seats to hold a majority in the House of Commons.

Recent polling has usually put the Lib Dems on a vote share of less than 20%.

Towards the beginning of a 48-minute speech, Mr Clegg said he wanted the top job for himself.

"I want to be Prime Minister because I have spent half a lifetime imagining a better society, and I want to spend the next half making it happen," he said.

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PARTY CALL: Nick Clegg