Mr Rendel's necessary focus on his constituency has sometimes meant being out of step with the bulk of his party's opinions.

BBC: David Rendel

David Rendel was one of the most celebrated of the Liberal Democrats' run of surprise by-election winners in the early 1990s.

BBC: David Rendel

Social security spokesman David Rendel is poised to announce his candidacy and will be followed next week by education spokesman Don Foster.

BBC: By Political Correspondent Nick Assinder

Mr Rendel has also strongly campaigned on opposition to nuclear technology.

BBC: David Rendel

But a number of party members spoke out against the strategy, including former MP David Rendel, who said there was a "growing consensus" the approach was not working.

BBC: UK Politics

Treasury spokesman Malcolm Bruce has the backing of three, while Simon Hughes, Don Foster, David Rendel and Jackie Ballard have just two MPs each to act as proposer and seconder.

BBC: News | UK Politics | Lib Dem contenders compete for MPs' support

Almost all of the Lib Dems' 46 MPs, including Mr Ashdown, and many peers crowded into a Commons committee room to hear addresses from the six challengers - Charles Kennedy, SImon Hughes, Jackie Ballard, Don Foster, Malcolm Bruce and David Rendel.

BBC: News | UK Politics | Lib Dem contenders compete for MPs' support