Who will replace Sir Menzies?

Last Modified: 16 Oct 2007
By: Channel 4 News

Nick Clegg is the early favourite to replace Sir Menzies Campbell as leader of the Liberal Democrats.

The party's home affairs spokesman did not stand in the 2006 leadership contest and there have been suggestions of a deal with Sir Menzies to assure his succession.

He has rejected those theories but admitted last month he would probably stand if the party was looking for a new leader.

Mr Clegg's closest rival is Chris Huhne, who contested the last leadership election.

Leadership contest

Candidates need the support of at least 10 per cent of fellow MPs and 200 ordinary members from at least 20 constituencies.

The leadership process takes at least eight weeks: Nominations must be open for at least three weeks and a postal ballot is then held over five weeks.

The election is based on the single transferable vote system, where members list all candidates by preference, and their votes are redistributed as the least popular are eliminated round by round.

But party president Simon Hughes is believed to have told his local party in Southwark he will not enter a third leadership battle.

Yeovil MP David Laws has not ruled himself out of the contest and the acting leader Vince Cable has said he would not be too old to take the job permanently.

Chief of staff Ed Davey has been tipped as leadership material and Steve Webb could also challenge with support from the left-wing of the party.

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Susan Kramer and Julia Goldsworthy are the most likely female candidates, but Ms Kramer's Richmond seat could be under threat and Ms Goldsworthy may be considered too young at 29.

Charles Kennedy is considered a long shot less than two years after leaving the job when he admitted a drinking problem and Lembit Opik is also an outsider despite his recent high profile.

He announced last week he would step down as leader of the party in Wales to challenge for the Mr Hughes for the party presidency.