With the election looming large on the horizon, the Liberal Democrats have demanded to be lampooned by the comedy establishment in exactly the same way as the Labour and Tory parties.

Traditionally seen as a poor third in the political race, the Lib Dems believe that the failure of comedians, television and magazine to devote a proportional amount of time to ridiculing their party has contributed to poor election results in the past.

“Every election it’s the same old story,” complained leader Charles Kennedy. “Everybody starts picking on the Conservatives or Labour, and ignores us. It’s already started. I saw a comedian in Soho the other night and it was Hague this, Blair that. What, you can’t take the piss out of me every now and then?”

Kennedy pointed out a long list of things about himself, which he considers ripe for the kind of low-level mockery that has characterised British humour in recent years.

“I have a tendency to say ‘Um’ quite a lot, which should be good for impressionists like Rory Bremner,” he said. “In fact, if he wanted to spend some time with me to get the impression just so, I could make some time for that in my schedule.”

“It doesn’t even have to be Rory Bremner,” he continued. “Any satirical impressionist will do. Hell, even Alistair McGowan, I don’t mind.”

The Lib Dems’ press office have issued a pack to all potential piss-takers highlighting the many opportunities that exist for getting laughs at their expense. Recommended characteristics include the distinctive yellow colour used by the party, the tendency of Shadow Chancellor Matthew Taylor’s voice to crack when interviewed, and a near-pathological insistence on referendums.

“We are every bit as valid a political party as Labour and the Conservatives,” insisted a spokesman. “And as such, we have a right to be pictured on the front page of Private Eye with speech bubbles making us say something stupid, or to be made to look foolish on Radio Four.”

Angus Deayton, presenter of the long-running BBC topical comedy show “Have I Got News For You”, said he did not hold out much hope for equal representation for the beleaguered Liberals.

“Unfortunately, Charles Kennedy is given fewer opportunities to say something downright stupid in public,” he explained. “This makes it difficult for us to point at him and go ‘Ha ha ha’. If he could just make some blatantly contradictory statements in the media from time to time, maybe we could help him out. But until then…”

Kennedy has subsequently vowed to use his best endeavours to make a complete tit of himself at every opportunity between now and the opening of the polls.