Liberal leaders

Under the current rules, to stand for leader candidates first have to win the support from 10% of MPs - though this is now less than one MP They also need the backing of at least 200 party members from at least 20 different local parties.

Nominated candidates are then elected by the wider membership using the alternative vote system.

With just a handful of survivors following the general election, who are the likely runners and riders?

Norman Lamb

Health Minister Norman Lamb would be a clear continuity candidate. He took on the social care brief from Paul Burstow in 2012 and was at the heart of major Liberal Democrat policy offers on mental health and the NHS at the general election.

The clash with Mr Farron could define the future path of the Liberal Democrats, whether they build back towards a party of government or take up principled opposition from the centre left.

Tim Farron

The former party president is popular among the grass roots of the party and has stayed well clear of the coalition government ranks. He has been in Parliament since 2005 and probably goes in to the leadership race as favourite.

Clearly on the left of his party, Mr Farron's leadership would represent a clear break with the agenda of Nick Clegg.

Alistair Carmichael

An outside contender, the Scotland Secretary has heavyweight cabinet experience after being brought in to pump up the party's campaign ahead of the Scottish independence referendum.

Mr Carmichael could be hurt by not only being a Scottish MP but also not representing a mainland seat either as the member for Orkney and Shetland.

And who are the Lib Dems who lost seats held by the party?

Danny Alexander – Inverness, Nairn, Badendoch and Strathspey

Norman Baker – Lewes

Gordon Birtwistle – Burnley

Steve Bradley – Bath

Tim Brett – North East Fife

Paul Burstow – Sutton and Cheam

Lorely Burt – Solihull

Michael Crockart – Edinburgh West

Vince Cable – Twickenham

Ed Davey – Kingston and Surbiton

Lynne Featherstone – Hornsey and Wood Green

Andrew George – St Ives

Steve Gilbert – St Austell and Newquay

Rachel Gilmour – Taunton Deane

Duncan Hames – Chippenham

Mike Hancock – Portsmouth South

Nick Harvey – North Devon

John Hemming – Birmingham Yardley

Martin Horwood – Cheltenham

Simon Hughes- Bermondsey and Old Southwark

Julian Huppert – Cambridge

Mark Hunter – Cheadle

Christine Jardine – Gordon

Lauren Keith – Brent Central

Charles Kennedy – Ross, Skye and Lochaber

David Laws – Yeovil

John Leech – Manchester, Withington

Stephen Lloyd – Eastbourne

Josh Mason – Redcar

Michael Moore – Berwickshire, Roxburgh and Selkirk

Tessa Munt – Wells

Julie Porksen – Berwick-upon-Tweed