THE Liberal Democrats are expected to approve a change in the party’s rules later this week that would make it harder to challenge the leader.

Lord Kirkwood, who was the party’s chief whip under Paddy Ashdown, has submitted a motion proposing that a candidate should have the backing of at least seven Lib Dem MPs to stand for leader. At present they need only two.

Although its effect would be to raise the bar in the face of any move to unseat Charles Kennedy, his position is secure at present and, barring accidents, he can reasonably expect to stay until the next general election.

The real significance is seen by some MPs gathered in Blackpool as placing an obstacle in the path of the leadership ambitions of Simon Hughes, his chief rival. The proposal is already being called a Stop Simon amendment.

Mr Hughes is popular among Lib Dem activists and has a network of supporters after contesting the leadership in 1999, winning the nomination as Lib dem candidate for London mayor in 2003 and his election as party president last year. He is said by colleagues to have much less support among Lib Dem MPs, although he has told friends that he is relaxed about the planned change.

The present rules were drawn up during the merger of the Liberals with the SDP in 1988. Supporters of the change say that this applied in an era when the new party had barely more than 20 MPs. The amendment, to be debated on Wednesday, says that a candidate must have the backing of at least 10 per cent of Lib Dem MPs. There are currently 62.

Privately, senior Lib Dems say that, if Charles Kennedy fell under a bus, Mr Hughes would be unstoppable as the candidate to replace him. Sir Menzies Campbell, the Deputy Leader who has admitted to regrets at not standing for leader six years ago, is now 64 has indicated to colleagues that he no longer wants the top job.

Other likely candidates are younger and need time to gain experience and raise profiles. Senior party figures tip Nick Clegg as the MP to watch.

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