EDWARD Forth believes William Hague can be beaten in his Richmond backyard, and if tactical voting helps him overturn the Conservative leader's 10,000 majority, so much the better.

Campaigning yesterday in Northallerton, North Yorkshire, he said: "In the absence of proportional representation, I think tactical voting is a sensible thing for anyone to do if they are following their conscience.

"Labour can't win here. It is not their country. The only party that can knock out the Conservatives in this constituency is the LibDems."

In 1997, Mr Forth's party finished third and 4,500 votes behind second-placed Lab-our. But he feels that was Labour's high tide in the overwhelmingly rural seat.

"I am certain our vote will go up," he said.

"I will be very disappointed if we don't come a very good second, and there is a chance we can beat Mr Hague if everybody votes by their inclinations."

A major talking point in the constituency which, from Hawes in the west to Appleton Wiske in the east, has been ravaged by foot-and-mouth, is how the rural economy rebuilds.

Mr Forth, a district councillor who lives near Leyburn, said the LibDems would set up two additional £100m funds to help farmers who had suffered consequential losses and to assist other rural businesses.

"It could be tricky to administer, but the willingness should be there to stop businesses going under," he said.

He also believes LibDem policy of creating a ministry for rural affairs, which would include Maff, the Department of the Environment and some Trade and Industry functions, is also a vote winner.

He also called for the public to be more informed about the euro.

"All that's peddled is prejudice and scaremongering," he said.

"We're told that if we lose the pound, we'll lose out Britishness and become emasculated. It's nonsense. We are talking about a trading currency, not abolition of the nation state. I believe that if we go in at the right exchange rate which agriculture and all other industry is crying out for, it will not be a problem."

Also standing in Richmond is Fay Tinnion, for Labour, and Melodie Staniforth, for the Monster Raving Loony Party