Lib Dem leadership contest

Last Modified: 18 Dec 2007
By: Channel 4 News

Today will the see the result of the Liberal Democrat leadership ballot. But who are the two potential leaders, Chris Huhne and Nick Clegg?

Chris Huhne

What does he believe?

Huhne's strong message on the environment and the economy has struck a chord with centre-left activists, who also welcomed his pledge to scrap Britain's Trident warheads.

He snatched headlines by calling on police to investigate planning permissions granted to Labour donor David Abrahams.

Scandals?

He blotted his copybook by failing to prevent his campaign team producing a document which branded his rival "Calamity Clegg", raising doubts over whether he can command broad-based support as leader.

A newspaper investigation uncovered a bizarre article published under Huhne's byline in a 1970s student magazine, which advocated the tolerance of class A drugs such as opium and LSD. He claimed not to remember whether he had written it.

Is this his first bid for leadership?

No, just eight months after his arrival at Westminster in the 2005 general election, he contested the leadership after Charles Kennedy stepped down in 2006.

Entering the battle a virtual unknown, he pushed eventual winner Sir Menzies Campbell hard, finishing in second place, ahead of party president and long-time darling of the Lib Dem left Simon Hughes.

After Sir Menzies' resignation in October Huhne was the first candidate to throw his hat into the ring for a second tilt at the top job.

Education?

Educated, like Nick Clegg, at Westminster School before going on to the Sorbonne in Paris and Magdalen College, Oxford.

Career?

He was a journalist, becoming economic commentator for The Guardian, The Independent and The Independent on Sunday, as well as working for the Liverpool Daily Post and Echo and The Economist. He was named financial journalist of the year in 1990.

In 1994, he founded one of the largest teams of economists in the City and he is the author of four books, the most recent outlining the argument for British membership of the Euro.

Political career?

Huhne was elected as a member of the European Parliament for south-east England from 1999 where he became the Liberal Democrat group's deputy leader and served on the Economic and Monetary Affairs Committee.

His victory at Eastleigh in the 2005 general election came on his third attempt to enter parliament. He holds the Hampshire constituency with a wafer-thin majority of just 568, raising concerns over whether he should lead the party.

After swapping Strasbourg for Westminster he was appointed to the front bench within months, to speak on tax and public spending.

But it is as the party's environment spokesman that he has gained his strongest public profile, promoting controversial 'green taxes' and challenging the government's record on climate change.

Personal life?

He is married to Vicky Pryce, chief economist at the Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform. They have five children.

Nick Clegg

What does he believe?

Some claim that he is a "David Cameron clone" who would take the Liberal Democrats to the right, as well as accusations that, at just 40, he lacks the experience needed to lead the party.

Nick Clegg has insisted he will take on both Conservatives and Labour as Lib Dem leader, with the ambitious target of taking his party to 150 seats within two general elections.

He has grabbed attention by promising to defy the law and go to court if necessary, if ID cards are introduced.

He is seen as being on the right of his party, with strong commitments to civil liberties and the devolution of public services.

A key priority during his leadership campaign has been a "pupil premium" plan to divert more cash to state schools in disadvantaged areas.

Scandals?

He offered ammunition to the Lib Dems' rivals by controversially floating a conditional amnesty for illegal immigrants who have been in the UK for 10 years.

In one of the few policy splits with rival Chris Huhne, he insisted he would keep Britain's Trident nuclear weapons at least until disarmament talks in 2010.

Is this his first bid for leadership?

Yes. Clegg was talent-spotted as a possible future leader when he was still a little-known MEP, but he opted out of last year's contest to replace Charles Kennedy.

Instead he supported Sir Menzies, and was rewarded with the high-profile home affairs brief that gave the confident media performer space to shine.

Education?

Like Huhne, he attended private boys' school Westminster. He then went to Robinson College, Cambridge, where he studied archaeology and anthropology. After graduating, he studied for a Masters degree.

During his gap year in Munich he set fire to some rare cacti and was sentenced to community service.

Career?

He worked as a journalist for the Financial Times, later moving to Brussels to work as chief of staff to Leon (now Lord) Brittan, one of the UK's commissioners.

Political career?

In 1997 Mr Clegg was elected as one of the party's MEPs. Six years later he won the electorate of Sheffield Hallam and entered parliament.

He is currently the home affairs spokesman.

Personal life?

The son of a half-Russian father and Dutch mother, Clegg speaks five European languages and is married to a Spaniard, Miriam Gonzalez Durantez. They have two sons.