Fair comment from Peter Riddell.

For judgement, vision and integrity Sir Ming would have my vote every time.

Unfortunately he was the victim of ageism right from the start and, as Daniel Finkelstein pointed out several days ago, the pressure was never going to go away.

When we are all crying out for politicians of substance, why are we such avid followers of the cult of youth ?

M Cole, London,

To think we could now have been starting an election run-up and one party would be lying through their teeth saying they were benind ming. I see another party who should have the courage to do the same; and get rid of Dave now before it's too late. Before you respond, there were plenty of snipings before the conferences and they will go on and on. And now we know their sums don't add up, they're going to have to try a bit harder to beat the old fox whose ben at the Treasury long enough to see Osborne off too. There is only one certain Party Leader going into the next Election and it is NOT Dave.

Jim Tomlinson, S, UK

Chris Smith, what absolute rubbish to suggest the Tories are now at risk from a new younger Lib-Dem leader, it's not just the 'young & charismatic' bit that the Tories are getting votes for, it's policies, as evidenced by Labour's hijacking of them, the Lib-Dems in comparison are nowhere.
The centre ground has been eaten up by Labour and the Conservatives over the years, no matter who they elect as leader just remember there are only 3 things certain in life; Death, Taxes, and the fact that the Lib-Dems will NOT form the next Government, or the one after that, or the one after that, ad infinitum...

John Kench, Charlotte, NC, USA (Ex-UK)

as politics now has no angry people either in the opposition parties or behind the front bench and as the research by them all on this absurd goverment is none exsistent it doesnt matter who leads the liberals.

rod smith, worsley, england

No one seems to have mentioned David Laws yet? He's far better than Clegg or Huhne put together.

james, London,

I cannot understand why the Liberals voted for someone with no hair!! The Tories found that out ten yars ago.

Chris Kay, Swindon, UK

The LibDems are going down the drain no matter who their leader is.

The reason for that is simple: there is no over-riding reason for them to exist.

Being less left than Labour and less right than the Tories leaves one a sliver of the vote that will always and only be a sliver of the vote.

Ming isn't the problem. The problem is that the LibDems are attempting to answer a question no one asked.

Jim, Milwaukee, USA

Bring back Charlie....

Steven, Southend, UK

Well, well the Ming Dynasty is finally over. If only our current Prime Minister had half as much courage. Pity the NHS don't do backbone replacement ops. If he signs up for one today he may just get it in time before the next election is due.

Frank Chabon, Ruislip, UK

That's another ghastly so called 'leader' down the pan - We need intelligent people to run our Country - NOT 'Arrivistes' who try to impose their ideals and ideas on this finacialy 'raped' Country. Just run the Schools, the NHS, the Police and the Public service sector in a responsible way.................................................please ! DS Cannes

David Smith, Cannes, France

I am absolutely gutted. I think that Sir Ming has suffered from a lot of unfair criticism, and that he was the right person to lead the Lib Dems onwards. I wish him well for the future.

Raf Nicholson, Oxford, UK

Menzies is the brightest spark in the LD's, that says nothing for the rest. Anyone who has not seen the writing on the wall by now deserves to be a LD, they will never form a government, but it's a good job having all the perks and knowing that you will never have to stand up and be counted, say anything you like without having to actually do it or be accountable. Thats LD. Agnostic is similar.

Dave Madley, Alicante, Spain

The Lib Dems are here to stay, the Conservatives should worry if we have a southern Lib Dem MP as our new leader, the Conservatives have to put up with Cameron, many Conservative voters i know hate him, and they will be voting UKIP in protest, and with a New Lib Dem leader, the Conservatives I feel have fired their guns, also you have to consider the Pro-Euro Conservatives in the party. I have heard from London that there could be a Tory Defection from the South if Huhne is the new leader, bring it on.

Chris Williams-Smith

Chris Smith, Christchurch,

So ends the Ming Dynasty!

Neil, Gloucestershire, England

inevitable. there was just too much concentration on his age.

Phil Barnes, preston, england

Sir Menzies has been an outstanding leader for the Lib Dems,
he has taken the party as forward as possible and perhaps it is time for the Lib Dems to have an election and choose their respective leader.
His position on foreign policy has been consistent throughout and equally has brought gravitas in his speeches but wisdom as well as intellect before Parliament.
Sincere best wishes for the future to his family and him.

The Director, LONDON, England

Ahmad, you know what the Tories stand for!? Any chance you could tell the rest of us then.

The Lib Dems policies are often very well thought out, why do you think they always get stolen (and sadly corrupted) by the other parties?

Tony, Oxford, UK

Why arent seasoned and respected Lib Dem figures such as Simon Hughes and Alan Beith now mentioned as candidates for the leadership? Why, since Blair, is youth the overiding requirement? Surely he was warning enough?

Bob T, London, UK

David Cameron's problem. This will make the LibDem/ Con negotiations much harder after the election.

The Conservatives are pragmatic in their pursuit of power but after today's events the LibDem have claims again on the title the Nasty Party, so unfairly bestowed on the Tories by Ms May.

More gentlemen and women are needed in politics to restore the public's trust. The LibDems have just sacked one of the greatest gentlemen.

Christopher Gillibrand, Brussels, Belgium in exile

David Laws is not mentioned in connection with the Lib Dem leadership but he probably made the best speech at the party conference.

Laws spoke without notes and made an excellent impression, whereas Nick Clegg was bent forward looking at his notes nearly the whole time. He lost my attention frequently while David Laws held it the whole time and made me want to see and hear more of him.

Bertie Johnston, Overijse, Belgium

The Libdems can make all the statements they like. Lets face facts they will never form a government !!!

Mark, Maidstone, U.K.

He came across as an old fogey. He is only 10 years senior to Gordon Brown but chooses to speak like a man a century older. Hanging on the archaic pronounciation of his name - however correct - just emphasised it. The LibDems own Sir Alec Douglas Home (of course, not pronounced as written either). .

C Rance , reading, berkshire

Well, I think the libdem peer is spot on. I would never vote LibDems with Ming in charge. But I like Nick Clegg although I don't trust the Libdems and most of their policies. The Tories are now serious contenders for winning the next election and at least I know what they stand for, and I think they would run the country better than Labour.

Ahmad, Tunbridge Wells, UK

Ha ha ha ha

Grampa Simpson....

Pete Balchin, Solicitor , Bristol, UK