The first Liberal Democrat MP has hinted she is running for party leader as the race gets under way to replace Jo Swinson.

The former leader of the party lost her seat in the 12 December general election and Sir Ed Davey is currently the acting leader.

Wera Hobhouse, who represents Bath, has said she is getting ready to make her pitch to the Liberal Democrats.

"I want to be part of the big debate."



Lib Dem MP @Wera_Hobhouse tells Sky News she is preparing her pitch to running in the party's leadership contest.



Get today's top stories: https://t.co/ZuvhBU2Goq pic.twitter.com/v41hWwCjfa — Sky News Politics (@SkyNewsPolitics) January 20, 2020

She told Sky News: "I am considering to stand. Simpy because I want to be part of that big debate that we are going to have.

"I am preparing my pitch, I am gathering my team together."


Ms Hobhouse said Lib Dems "fight good internal debates because we actually believe in that transparency".

The Lib Dems aren't rushing to select a replacement for the ousted Ms Swinson and the nominations won't open until 11 May.

Potential candidates will have until 28 May to get nominations together and the ballot will start on 18 June.

The votes will close on 15 July.

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Former leader Sir Vince Cable said it was "very sensible" to give it time to choose a leader.

He said: "Not rushing in is sensible, not least because we need to know where the Labour Party is going."

The party has more than 100,000 members who will be eligible to vote and the party president Mark Pack urged "everyone else who shared our values" to join and vote.