Sir Vince Cable has announced he will stand down as Lib Dem leader in May, triggering a contest for his replacement
The 75-year-old former business secretary took the helm when the party faced near-electoral oblivion in the wake of their years in the 2010 coalition government and was largely viewed as a caretaker leader.
Now, established as a leading voice in the pro-EU movement and on the road to recovering their previous level of support, the Lib Dems will be picking a new figurehead, with high hopes for electoral success.
But who are the candidates?
Jo Swinson
Deputy leader and East Dunbartonshire MP Jo Swinson is widely viewed as favourite to take the top job.
Serving as business minister and junior equalities minister during the party’s time in government, the 39-year-old is seen as experienced and a safe pair of hands.
In her favour, Swinson has a long history with the party and has put herself at the centre of core Lib Dem campaigns, including opposition to the Iraq war, Labour’s proposals for identity cards and votes at 16.
Her election would see the party have a female leader for the first time ever.
But some members hoping for a fresh start could view her close association with the coalition years, as a parliamentary private secretary for Cable and later Nick Clegg, as potentially damaging the party.
More recently, Swinson made history as the first MP to bring their baby into a Commons debate as she called for parliament to modernise its working practices.
Layla Moran
A former physics teacher and the first ever MP of Palestinian descent, Layla Moran has made an impression since being elected in Oxford West and Abingdon in 2017.
As her party’s education spokesperson, Moran has pushed campaigns to tackle period poverty in schools and for gender neutral uniforms.
A confident media performer, the 36-year-old also has time with the Commons’ powerful pubic accounts committee under her belt.
Those fearful of opponents linking the party to Tory austerity will view Moran as a fresh start, which could give her a competitive edge.
One member said: “She’s very bright, popular with membership, articulate, media friendly – not coalition era – and I think she’ll be a hit with voters looking for a new generation of politicians, and particularly with younger women.”
Others will see her as lacking experience and may point to her slim 816-vote majority as risky.
Ed Davey
Former energy secretary Sir Ed Davey surprised politicos when he chose not to take a run at the leadership in the wake of the 2017 general election.
First elected in 1997, Davey has a wealth of experience, including as chief of staff to Sir Menzies Campbell, a party whip under Lord Ashdown and then later in government as a minister.
He is thought to have a campaign team ready and will be a fierce competitor. While he will be regarded as a safe pair of hands, he may struggle to shake off the “heir to Clegg” tag and will be closely associated with the coalition years.
Davey also came in for some heavy criticism after, upon losing his Kingston and Surbiton seat between 2015 and 2017, taking several jobs with energy consultancies.
One member told HuffPost: “Ed Davey wants it and has the economic policy chops and cabinet experience. He is, however, seen as a bit safe and stodgy and may lack the charisma and pizazz to win – many feel it is time for a woman leader.”