BARONESS Shirley Williams believes MP Duncan Hames can hold onto his Chippenham seat in next May’s general election.

Baroness Williams was in Chippenham on Friday to speak to the Lib Dem MP and local party campaigners at their North Wiltshire base.

Baroness Williams first became an MP 50 years ago before co-founding the Social Democratic Party and being elected as their first president in 1982.

She served as leader of the Liberal Democrats from 2001 until retiring in 2004.

She said: “We know from a lot of polling that Lib Dem MPs have what we call an incumbency bonus.

“If he or she has been an MP for one or more terms, there’s clear evidence that Lib Dem MPs get an additional vote in their favour because they have the reputation, justifiably, for being extremely hard working, like Duncan.

“All the evidence on the past elections shows we come out considerably better than the polls suggest so we’re not as discouraged by the polls as people might think.”

After such a long time in politics, Baroness Williams knows that Chippenham will be a key seat for both the Liberal Democrats and the Conservatives. She said: “They target it as one of the seats they’re going to try to win.There’s a good chance Duncan will hold on but I’m not saying he won’t have to work hard to do it.”

Duncan Hames will go up against prospective parliamentary candidates Andy Newman (Lab) and Conservatives’ Michelle Donelan.

Baroness Williams also congratulated local campaigners on their battle against regional pay, something which the Liberal Democrats are keen to point to in an attempt to differentiate themselves from their Coalition partners.

She said: “I appreciate that Chippenham is just on the edges of where the pay would come down.”