As someone who has not yet decided whom to support for Leader, there are three things I want to emphasise, among the many relevant considerations.

First, the new Leader needs to draw on all the streams of Liberalism – political, economic, and social – in order to articulate a philosophy which has freedom as its starting point. Those in the press who think that the Leader can or should choose only one of these, as if he was picking a colour for his rosette, misunderstood the nature of Liberalism and Liberal democracy. The party has a history of recognising that, although emphasis may vary in the light of previous governments’ actions, all three elements are essential to the protection of freedom.

Secondly, the new Leader needs to be able to convince voters that he is seeking power so that he can carry these principals through into action in the next Parliament, making full use of any negotiating power we have to achieve what our voters supported.

Thirdly, the new Leader needs to show through his campaign that he can engage the interest and win the confidence of voters. In that respect Charles Kennedy is a hard act to follow, and we need to build on what he achieved.