Tim Farron hints at Lib Dem leadership bid

Tim Farron has stolen a march on Norman Lamb, his likely rival for the leadership of the Liberal Democrats, by securing the support of several high profile members of the party.

Mr Farron, the party's former president, has not yet declared whether he intends to run for the leadership, but hinted he would do so within days, telling the BBC on Monday he would take soundings from colleagues.

"At the moment I'm up in my constituency at home and will be stood out in the marketplace in Kendal looking to local folks, what they think I should do and other colleagues later on across the country," he said.

"I am, to coin a phrase, ruling nothing in and ruling nothing out."

Mr Farron, who is popular among Lib Dem members, especially on the left of the party, received the backing of its Scottish and Welsh leaders on Monday, as well as some of its MPs.

In a joint statement, Willie Rennie and Kirsty Williams said: "We will wholeheartedly support him if he decides to put himself forward. Tim is a committed liberal, a brilliant communicator, an outstanding campaigner and an inspirational leader."

Norman Lamb, the former health minister, is also asking colleagues whether he should run. As a close ally of Nick Clegg, the former leader, Mr Lamb is likely to run as the standard-bearer of the right, and will win support among those who say Mr Farron will move the party back towards the left and further away from government.

One of the eight Lib Dems who retained their parliamentary seat last week told the Financial Times: "I am backing Norman - we need to make sure this is not just a coronation."

Another said however: "Tim is the right person for the party. He is a proper campaigner, rather than someone who impresses columnists on the Times."

While Mr Clegg is likely to be a natural supporter of Mr Lamb, he has previously said he would not openly back one candidate over another if there were to be a contest.

MPs will meet on Tuesday for the first time since the election to discuss their next steps, a meeting at which the mood is likely to be sombre. One MP told the FT: "I feel like I've been in a disaster and now I have survivor's guilt. There were many better people than me who lost their seats."

MPs' backing for certain candidates will be influential, but each Lib Dem member will get a vote, with voting closing on July 15. While Mr Farron is popular among many of the party's current members, he will also have to impress the 7,750 new ones who have joined since polling day, lifting the party's membership by about 15 per cent to nearly 53,000.

Meanwhile, the party has to adjust to life in opposition, with funding falling due to the loss of so many MPs. The party may have to move out of its Great George Street central office, although a spokesman said there was still some money in the bank, and therefore no need to make any "panicked decisions".

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