London - Tory leader Mr William Hague last night claimed the Conservatives were on course to win the next election after a by-election victory on Thursday.
The Conservatives scored their first by-election gain in Scotland for 33 years in the Ayr contest for the Scottish parliament. There was a 16 per cent swing from Labour since the last general election in the seat, which has the same boundaries for Westminster and Edinburgh constituencies. Tory sources said if the result was replicated across Britain at the next election, Mr Hague would be returned to the Commons with a majority of 115.
