The nightmare scenario for the Lib Dems

There is an increasing sense here in Westminster that the Lib Dem leadership race will be a far closer run thing than anyone was expecting. Indeed,judging by this poll, albeit an unscientific one, at a hustings in Cambridge, Chris Huhne might even pull off a shock victory. But he would be a leader imposed on the parliamentary party against its will, 39 of 63 Lib Dem MPs are backing Clegg.

In these circumstances, it wouldn’t take long for murmurings against the leader to begin if the polls didn’t show an instant and sustained uptick. The Lib Dems might even manage to depose three leaders in a parliament, which would surely be some kind of record.