Lib Dem Leadership Contenders in Full

A complete run-down of all those MPs that could stand for the Lib Dem leadership, with my notes on a few:

• Danny Alexander, Inverness, Nairn, Badenoch and Strathspey: MP since 2005, he could throw his hat into the ring because he sounds a bit like "Douglas Alexander". The resulting confusion could garner votes on the left of the party.
• Norman Baker, Lewes: Well known for his Sunday paper like tendency to uncover scandals and formerly the party's environment spokesperson. However, his links to the butcher and candlestick maker could rule him out from the top job.
• John Barrett, Edinburgh West: His half-price sales may well tip the scales in his favour.
• Alan James Beith, Berwick-upon-Tweed.
• Tom Brake, Carshalton and Wallington.
• Colin Breed, South East Cornwall: Could run to stop jokes about in-Breed-ing in Cornwall.
• Annette Brooke, Mid Dorset and North Poole.
• Jeremy Browne, Taunton: Could the country take two "Brown/es"?
• Malcolm Bruce, Gordon.
• Paul Burstow, Sutton and Cheam.
• Lorely Burt, Solihull: A great name that deserves to be seen more in print.
• Vincent Cable, Twickenham: One of a few to rule himself out, is currently the Acting Leader.
• Menzies Campbell, North East Fife: Could run a shock campaign to regain the leadership from which he recently resigned, but this may well be stalled by questions about his age.
• Alistair Carmichael, Orkney and Shetland.
• Nick Clegg, Sheffield Hallam: One of the two "frontrunners" according to a number of papers and despairingly they are both privately educated (and Oxbridge educated) former MEPs - how they will come across as a "man of the people" is beyond me, but perhaps they won't need to. Is there something wrong with a party run by a well-educated man, despite his upbringing? Has launched his campaign website.
• Edward Davey, Kingston and Surbiton: Former Chief of Staff to Ming, he's got a catchy name going for him.
• Tim Farron, Westmorland and Lonsdale.
• Lynne Featherstone, Hornsey and Wood Green: Has regrettably ruled herself out, I would have liked to have seen her go for it as the "everything the other two are not" candidate. She's state educated, went to a polytechnic, rose through the ranks via a council and the GLA and what's even better, runs a blog. If the leadership comes up again, I hope she considers herself then.
• Don Foster, Bath: I like Bath, it's pretty.
• Andrew George, St Ives.
• Sandra Gidley, Romsey: Another blogger, but not someone I want to see in the running as her stance on violent pornography is hopelessly illiberal.
• Julia Goldsworthy, Falmouth and Camborne: May be prevented from running by questions over her age... and because most of the male adult population will knock one off when she comes on at PMQs. You don't want that interrupted by Gordon Brown in the next shot.
• Mike Hancock, Portsmouth South: Could bring some much needed swearing to the campaign.
• Evan Harris, Oxford West and Abingdon.
• Nick Harvey, North Devon.
• David Heath, Somerton and Frome.
• John Hemming, Birmingham Yardley: Another blogger, he has released a "position statement" and is actively seeking the requisite number of nominations.
• Paul Holmes, Chesterfield.
• Martin Horwood, Cheltenham: Another very pretty city.
• David Howarth, Cambridge.
• Simon Hughes, North Southwark and Bermondsey: Not running.
• Chris Huhne, Eastleigh: Came second last time, I've seen him speak in person and he's not too shabby. See "Nick Clegg" however on background.
• Mark Hunter, Cheadle.
• Paul Keetch, Hereford.
• Charles Kennedy, Ross, Skye and Lochaber: Probably won't run, could find it difficult to get out of the bar.
• Susan Kramer, Richmond Park: Ruled out.
• Norman Lamb, North Norfolk: I like him, I like him a lot and not just because he beat Iain Dale at the last election.
• David Laws, Yeovil: Not standing.
• John Leech, Manchester Withington.
• Michael Moore, Berwickshire, Roxburgh and Selkirk: Won't run as too busy promoting his new film, Sicko.
• Greg Mulholland, Leeds North West.
• Mark Oaten, Winchester: Forced out of the last race after claims about his relationship with a rent-boy. He's also standing down at the next election.
• Lembit Öpik, Montgomeryshire: Too busy with cheeky girls and asteroids.
• John Pugh, Southport. Hugh, Barney McGrew, Cuthbert, Dibble and Grub are advising him not to stand, for fear of splitting the group.
• Alan Reid, Argyll and Bute.
• Willie Rennie, Dunfermline and West Fife: Tee-hee, his first name is "Willie".
• Dan Rogerson, North Cornwall.
• Paul Rowen, Rochdale.
• Bob Russell, Colchester: "Bingo Bob".
• Adrian Sanders, Torbay.
• Robert Smith, West Aberdeenshire and Kincardine.
• Andrew Stunell, Hazel Grove.
• Jo Swinson, East Dunbartonshire.
• Matthew Taylor, Truro and St Austell: Stepping down at the next election.
• Sarah Teather, Brent East: One-time media darling, now largely forgotten.
• John Thurso, Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross.
• Steve Webb, Northavon: Another blogger, he's confident he has enough nominations to run.
• Mark Williams, Ceredigion.
• Roger Williams, Brecon and Radnorshire.
• Stephen Williams, Bristol West.
• Phil Willis, Harrogate and Knaresborough.
• Jenny Willott, Cardiff Central.
• Richard Younger-Ross, Teignbridge: Younger than Ross?

Well, that's "defaming the majority of the parliamentary party" ticked off the list, now what's next?