THEY say a week is a long time in politics, and it is - so imagine what five years can do to a Liberal Democrat.

It wasn't that long ago that Nick Clegg's party held serious sway in the opinion polls - in fact after the televised leader's debates of 2010, for a little while at least, he was the most popular British party leader since Winston Churchill.

Fast forward to today and the picture is far bleaker, which is probably why Worcester's Lib Dem parliamentary candidate Federica Smith talks in frank tones about looking to hold the third place finish it achieved five years ago.

But there are reasons to be optimistic.

The party has been in Government, and as Miss Smith points out, "75 per cent of the manifesto" ended up getting past the Conservatives and into law, with the most notable among them being the pupil premium and rise in the personal tax allowance, rewarding nearly 30 million working people.

There's clearly been a heavy price to pay, and in Worcester the party has seen that as much as anywhere else - in 2010 it had all three Claines-based city council seats but now has the one, which it is trying to hold onto desperately, to make sure it still has some representation at the Guildhall.

But Miss Smith, from Taunton, in Somerset, is an optimist.

The 30-year-old is widely seen as one of the party's real rising stars and cut her teeth at the age of 15, doing work experience for former Lib Dem MP Jackie Ballard, who represented Taunton from 1997 to 2001.

Born to staunch Liberal Democrat parents Peter and Fran, both of whom are serving councillors in Somerset, she grew up around the hype of Britain's third party.

After a state secondary school education, college and then a degree in international politics at Aberystwyth University, she ended up studying for an MA at the Open University and works in private health insurance.

But politics was never far from her mind and two years ago she decided to contest a vacant by-election seat at Taunton Deane Council, getting elected to join mum and dad in the chamber.

It says a lot that the city's Lib Dem branch, unimpressed with any of the potential locally-based candidates, decided to head-hunt Miss Smith for the position.

One of those interested was current independent candidate Mark Shuker, who decided to quit the party after selectors decided to look elsewhere.

In recent weeks Miss Smith has already got to grips with the city, calling it "beautiful".

"I've been involved with the Lib Dems since I was 15, I did work experience with Jackie Ballard and really enjoy it," she says.

"My aim is to become an MP, at the end of the day I'm an ordinary, working class person and I want to get elected so I can represent people like me in parliament."

She is clear on her beliefs, and says she joined the Lib Dems because she is passionate about "fairness".

"I expect the rich to pay a little bit more to help make a difference for those who can't," she says.

"I have always wanted to help people - for me politics is about trying to create more fairness in society."

Miss Smith, who is currently planning her wedding with husband-to-be Llyr Roberts, told your Worcester News she'd been struck by the city's appearance.

"There's hardly any empty shops here, that's something Worcester should be very proud of," she says.

"It's a small city but a very beautiful one, the Hive is an absolutely amazing building and there's so much history about the place, tourism, I think it's great."

She also says she is very grounded about the pressures of family life, being a mum-of-two herself, with Mali, her two-year-old daughter, joined by Ilan,who is seven months.

Despite having to work around them she says she has loved her time as a councillor and is desperate to now go one better by moving lock, stock and barrel to the city with her family if a major upset became reality.

It will be a challenge in Worcester, where the party is now facing serious challenge from those eager to become the new 'opposition' to the big two, in the Green Party and UKIP.

Five years ago the Lib Dem's city parliamentary candidate Jackie Alderson achieved nearly 20 per cent of the Worcester vote, an impressive 9,525, putting her well clear of the rest in a solid third place finish behind the Conservatives and Labour.

But a snap Lord Ashcroft poll of 1,000 city householders put the Lib Dems in fifth on just four per cent of the vote last month, highlighting the battle ahead.

But Miss Smith is confident things will turn around - and she's leading the charge for it herself.

"I love knocking on doors, meeting people, that's what this is all about," she says.

"We were third in 2010 and my aim is to hold that.

"I know some people might think it's damaged us (being in Coalition), but we got 75 per cent of our 2010 manifesto through.

"I look at our policies and the way they've helped ordinary people, like the income tax changes and pupil premium, and I know we did it for the right reasons."