Nick Clegg, Home Affairs spokesman

Odds: 4/5

Age: 40, married September 2000 Miriam Gonzalez-Durantez, 2 sons

Educated: Westminster, Robinson College Cambridge, Univ of Minnesota

Signs of ambition? Tight lipped in public. Then admitted during party conference: “If there was a vacancy in the future then I probably would.” Later attacked by Sir Menzies’ wife for his comments

Positioning: Seen on the centre right of the party, received tentative overtures from Tories

Advantages: Telegenic, articulate, has been loyal to Sir Ming

Disadvantages: Inexperienced in Parliament, has privately shown occasinal irritation with activists

Chris Huhne, Environment spokesman

Odds: 3/1

Age: 53, married 1984, Vicky Pryce, 2 sons, 2 daughters

Educated: Westminster, Sorbonne, Magdalen College Oxford

Signs of ambition? First stood for leadership two years ago against Sir Menzies and Simon Hughes. “Friends of Chris Huhne” drew attention his local Lib Dem performance in the May elections which bucked national trends

Positioning: Says he is appeals to the centre of the party, his environment brief has made him popular with activists

Advantages: Clever, cross-party appeal, raised profile of envrionment in party, perceived as being in tune with activist

Disadvantages: Unpopular amongst some in Parliamentary party, some believe he has been too overtly ambitious

Steve Webb, chair of Liberal Democrat election manifesto team

Odds: 16/1

Age: 42, married Helen in 1993, one son, one daughter

Educated: Dartmouth High School, Hertford College, Oxford.

Signs of ambition? Little obvious sign so far

Positioning: Likely to stand as a flag bearer for the party’s left-wing.

Advantages: Good profile among the party's activists, and good on policy

Disadavantages: Not established a high enough profile within Westminster, and concerns about his media ability

Susan Kramer, Transport spokeswoman

Odds: 33/1

Age: 57

Educated: St Paul's Girls' School, Oxford University (President of the Oxford Union), University of Illinois, United States.

Signs of ambition: In 2000, she stood unsuccessfully as the party's official candidate for the Mayor of London against Ken Livingstone. She came 4th, attracting 11.9% of the vote. In March 2003, she was defeated in a race for her party's nomination by Simon Hughes.

Positioning: Centre-right, expert on the economy

Advantages: The only obvious female candidate in the race, which many Lib Dems regard as important

Disadvantages: Occupies a very marginal seat (Richmond Park), and has Zac Goldsmith (the Conservative candidate and son of billionaire Sir James Goldsmith) standing against her at the next election

Ed Davey, former chief of staff to Sir Menzies Campbell

Odds: 25/1

Age: 41

Educated: Nottingham High School, Jesus College, Oxford.

Signs of ambition? Long-term frontbencher and ambitious MP who worked as chief of staff to Sir Menzies Campbell

Positioning: Centre-right

Advantages: Young and potentially media-friendly and good potential support network within the party

Disadvantages: As Sir Menzies Campbell's former chief of staff, he has had a low-profile with the press over recent months

Vincent Cable, Acting Leader

Odds: 16/1

Age: 64

Educated: Nunthorpe Grammar School, Fitzwilliam College, Cambridge

Positioning: Centre-right

Signs of ambition? Has a high profile as Treasury spokesman, is good on policy and has shown form as a good Commons performer

Advantages: Experienced, bright and politically radical, excellent on the economy

Disadvantages: Would be considered too right-wing for many Lib Dem MPs, and his age may also be a factor as he is only marginally younger than Sir Menzies Campbell

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