If Clegg goes who will replace him?

[Jackieharris]

I don't think he'll still be leader next week.

My money's on Jo Swinson to replace him if she keeps her seat.

No chance for Jo Swinson for leader.

Tim Farron is the best smooth talker they have got.

I have vaguely heard of him. Was he in the coalition?

Do they have many decent contenders who will keep their seats?

Farron gets talked about a fair amount so maybe. I'm not sure if Jo Swinson will keep her seat.

Farron is the President of the party. I don't agree with the LibDems, but I have to admit that he is the most effective person they have got. He is personable and has the ability to take everythng that is thrown at him and still appear positive. He seems amazingly resilient and positive and that is what the public want to see.

Of course, Clegg is also an amazing spin merchant who can chirp positively for hours except that Clegg is now discredited and looks like he is just playing an Oxbridge Establishment game with the public. So it is time for the smooth spinner to hang his shoes up and take a back seat if the LibDems want to win credibility back.

Farron also has a sense of humour which is crucial to connect with the public. Farron has a humility that Establishment Clegg the "I apologised musically no less" arrogant bluffer lacks.

Farron is a pretty good guess, I think. Clearly, if Clegg loses his seat, he'll step down but his replacement doesn't have to be an MP, I suppose?

Jo Swinson is very unlikely to keep her seat if the atmosphere at the hustings here is anything to go by. There was a lot of anger towards the lib dems, and her campaign here has been very odd - focusing mainly on local authority issues like potholes, and devolved issues, like health. She is a good constituency MP - very visible - and she'd have been far better resigning from the lib dems and becoming independent after the last election.

Danny Alexander has been the most visible lib dem during the election campaign from the bits & pieces I've seen.
Don't know enough to say whether he is the best candidate though

Tim Farron isn't president any more Claig its Sarah Brinton.

Farron is a plain speaker and has very publicly opposed a lot of the choices made by the coalition. He is very well liked within his own constituency and I think he will do well if he does decide to put himself forward for any future leadership challenges.

I think the lib dems need to go back to basics and build up grass roots support again. Farron is definitely the man to model good practice in grassroots support.

'Why are they always smiling into each other's faces with such smug pursed lips. It's just totally ghastly. '

Because it's all an Establishment game and they were born and chosen to rule. It looks like Clegg might posibly be saved by Tory voters saving him. But he is really finished if the LibDems want to be serious. Ordinary people are sick of his phoney chirpiness and bouncey "I apologised musically no less" brush off of his failures.

'What I don't get is if LB supporters actually respect him. Do they really? If there are any on this thread, please speak up.'

I think LibDem supporters probably do respect him for his chirpy sales ability. The problem is the rest of the public are tired of his false front.

'Tim Farron isn't president any more Claig its Sarah Brinton.'

Thanks, that explains why I have seen her in more TV appearances recently.

Tim Farron may well be one of the few lib dems to convincingly hold on to their seat on Thursday too which definitely improves his chances

I read today that he was unlikely to lose his seat as a lot of Tory voters will be voting LD to stop Labour getting in. So I expect he'll stay on. He's probably the least awful of the three.

No chance of Jo Swinson - deeply unpopular and running a poor local campaign. Local Lib Dems are not happy and I know of one ex-LD voter who is voting SNP as a tactical vote! I'm predicting she'll lose her seat.

Alistair Carmichael comes over very badly in the media but is very highly regarded as a constituency MP (certainly in Shetland). Danny Alexander is the same but his seat is a bit more precarious.

I like Ed Davey and Martin Harwood. I did some work with Norman Lamb and he seemed a decent guy. This was before he was in Health.

I think Cleggie will hold on. He is very media friendly and sadly, that goes a long way these days far more than values

Olly, why is Swinson "deeply unpopular"?

Probably unfair for me to say that, on reflection, as it might be more generic disenchantment with the Lib Dems than just her own popularity.

There's been some outrage about her campaigning using pictures of empty hospital beds signifying the number of people who have died of cancer while SNP in control of Scottish government. She implies the referendum is to blame- "SNP taking their eye off the ball to work on the referendum". A few cancer specialists have been very vocally critical about that as have constituents who have lost family to cancer.

She hasn't come over well at hustings, and she's up against a very charismatic former journo who has mobilised a lot of high profile support for his campaign.

I think as well she's bearing the brunt (as is Alexander & Carmichael) of being part of the Conservative government - which even the Scottish leader has distanced herself from.

'She hasn't come over well at hustings'

I only seeerTV an for me she dosn't come across well - too earnest and right-on.

For leadership all the stars have to align in the right positions and it is very rare to find people who have all the qualities necessary. Farron is fortunate to have it all, but I don't think Swinson has it.

I like Farage (obviously), Rachel Reeves is brilliant and gets better each time I see her (but unfortunately she doesn't want to be leader), Farron and the brilliant Diane James of UKIP (but she also does not want to be leader unfortunately).

My first thought on reading the title was "A nice friendly golden Labrador",
but it's late and I'm drunk very tired...........

It's a shame David Laws has baggage that precludes him going for leader

"too earnest"

God forbid someone actually believe in their party's principles....

The one I've been most impressed with, but doubt he's smooth enough for leadership is Norman Lamb. Softly spoken, speaks his mind and sense. It'll probably be someone more known though

No, all of Farage, Rachel Reeves, Farron and Diane James believe in their policies, but don't put them across in an earnest right-on way. That's why I think Swinson could never be a leader because the public would think she doesn't come across well enough.

Annoyingly it looks as if Clegg will retain his seat. I don't think he deserves to. He's already reneged on one of his red lines for this election and we haven't even voted yet!

Red line? What? Have I missed something while timewasting on MN? (apart from life and stuff)