Who will lead the Lib Dems now?
Last night was a horrible, brutal night for the Lib Dems but their almost complete wipeout does make the matter of choosing a new that much easier: there’s barely anyone left to pick from.
Big hitters Vince Cable, Danny Alexander and Ed Davey are gone so whoever it is it will be a relative unknown.
Tim Farron
A former president of the Liberal Democrats, managed to hang on in Westmorland and Lonsdale with a reduced majority. He is seen a popular figure among grassroots members and would be likely to focus all of his energies in winning back the parties traditional sandal wearing masses who have abandoned the party in their droves.
A practicing Christian, left-leaning, comp-educated and Northern and a tempting alternative to the Euro-phile, Westminster alumni Mr Clegg.
Norman Lamb
He was a popular minister in the coalition government and held the important care portfolio. He’s long been talked about as a possible future leader and he himself has not ruled out a leadership bid.
However, he is close to Nick Clegg and this relationship could poison his chances with Lib Dem members who want a clean break after the disastrous results last night and someone who has not been involved in the coalition.
Alistair Carmichael
The only LIb Dem to retain his seat who took up a cabinet position in the coalition government. He is more of a centirst option that Farron successfully transcending the left/right divide of his party and will appeal to some as a statesmanlike alternative to Tim Farron.
He held on to his seat in Orkney in the face of a SNP surge, leaving him the only Lib Dem MP in Scotland. The very position of his seat on the outter reaches of the UK could work against him in any bid to lead his party in the rest of the UK.