Unsurprisingly, the news of Ming Campbell's departure has been met with a huge splash of media coverage.

Perhaps more surprisingly is the amount of agreement that the different commentators and leader writers manage to muster:

The frontpages and sketches talk about the rather bizarre announcement (see Simon Hoggart in The Guardian and Andrew Gimson in The Telegraph).

There is lots of praise for Ming in the leaders.  Not just for his qualities, but for knowing when to go.  The general impression is that the Lib Dems will do well from it. The Telegraph is typical in saying:

"It is inconceivable that the new leader will prove as easy a target [for the Conservatives] in this respect as Sir Menzies." ('Sir Menzies' exit  is good news for politics')

See also the leader in The Guardian ('A sad but necessary departure') The Mail ('Too decent (and dull) for modern politics') and even the Sun:

"After soaring into a commanding lead by mopping up Sir Ming’s deserters, he now risks losing them to a rejuvenated Lib-Dem Party. Once again, the next election is wide open." ('Young guns')

It must be said, though that such a view is not totally unanimous.  The Independent warned of dark days ahead, describing yesterday as an:

"inescapably... bleak day for the Liberal Democrats, which threw a harsh spotlight on the plight of the third party." ('Cold winds are swirling around the third party')

Some people also express an initial view on the likely candidates.  Those that do are of a pretty similar mindset:

"Nick Clegg is so plainly the superior contender for the post that, if he does not win, the party will have opted for collective suicide after committing two murders. "

says Tim Hames in The Times ('Lib Dem assassins don't have a clue').

The Times' leader column is of a similar view:

"If the mediocre Mr Huhne is anointed, his party is doomed to insignificance, while the clearly more capable Mr Clegg seems to understand that a combination of market economics and social conscience will have popular appeal." ('After the Ming')

In a similar vein is Daniel Hannan - though he is not the kind of endorsement Clegg will necessarily welcome.

Huhne's camp makes what will be an unwelcome appearance in many of the analysis columns fingered as are for destabilising Ming.  According to Greg Hurst:

Allies of Mr Huhne were being accused last night of a brutal briefing campaign to destabilise Sir Menzies and hasten a leadership contest before Mr Clegg’s stature and support base within the party grew. ('Rapid exit of conference hero who defied his critics but not the polls')

This story is repeated by Michael White in The Guardian ('Miserable end to an honorable career as Lib Dem leader falls in the final lap')

But although this can't have been the start that Huhne has had, as the FT points out, his campaign has crucial experience from the previous campaign ('Succession fight between Hughes and Clegg')

I suspect this blog will be rather busy in the coming weeks.