Charles Kennedy and Jody Dunn campaigning
in last year's general election
It wouldn't need a rocket scientist to tell you that this hasn't been the greatest week that Liberal Democrats have ever known, writes Jody Dunn.
First we had a leader, then we had one standing in a leadership election, then we just had a leadership election. At times the talk was of nothing more than a simple coronation.
The week was all the more painful because of the protagonist in question. We have all seen the fall of leaders at a time when that same leader has lost the support of the rank and file of the party.
Not so Charles. He was, and remains, immensely popular among Liberal Democrats across the country. Had he remained as a candidate in the race for leader, his challengers would have been hard pushed to come anything other than second.
I spoke to Charles yesterday evening. Despite what must have been a truly awful week for him, he remains philosophical and upbeat. "I'm in good spirits. I've been through tougher times than this...."
And on the forthcoming election? "The crucial thing now is that we have an election in which the membership is really involved. I hope we have as wide a choice of serious candidates as possible. Fair play dictates that."
And the membership agrees. Now that a new leader is inevitable, Lib Dems will not settle for anything less than a campaign in which they make the decisions, and in which no-one's votes are taken for granted.
Political commentators would have us believe it's all just a formality - that no matter who stands, Ming will emerge victorious.
And this is, no doubt, something that will have played on the minds of Mark Oaten, Simon Hughes, Chris Huhne and others.
There is no question that Ming is both popular and respected within the party. But it is also true that many Lib Dems - I would venture to suggest still a majority - are still open to persuasion as to which box they will eventually tick.
It is an old cliché to say that a week is a long time in politics, and this has been a long week by anyone's standards.
Several more still remain between now and the counting of ballot papers. Lib Dems everywhere are keen to know the final list of contenders, and how each will try and persuade us that they should be the new leader.
But there is another, still more crucial choice about which Lib Dems countrywide are entirely united.
We can either look back on this last week with awkwardness and embarrassment, or we can see it as a fresh start; and the opportunity to unite and reinvigorate the party.
Any poll in the world will tell you that you that their unanimous choice will be to do the latter.
* Jody Dunn was the Liberal Democrat candidate for Hartlepool at last year's general election
