Ananova:

The battle to succeed Sir Menzies Campbell as leader of the Liberal Democrats will begin in earnest as hot favourite Nick Clegg formally declares his candidacy.

Home affairs spokesman Mr Clegg is due to make a personal statement in his Sheffield constituency, and his campaign team has made no secret of the fact that he will announce his ambition to lead the party.

He will join the only other declared candidate, environment spokesman Chris Huhne, in what is looking increasingly likely to be a two-horse race.

Both men come from the modernising group on the right of the party, and Mr Huhne has acknowledged that their agendas are very similar, with only "nuances" of difference likely to emerge over the course of the campaign.

The poll of more than 55,000 Liberal Democrat members across Britain may hinge on personality, rather than policy.

Activists are thought to be keen to choose a "telegenic" leader who will fare better in promoting the party's message through the modern media than Sir Menzies, who admitted his chances were hampered by negative comments about his age and stiff performance.

Sheffield Hallam MP Mr Clegg, 40, has already won the support of former leader Lord Ashdown and manifesto writer Steve Webb - who had been tipped as a possible candidate from the left of the party - as well as prominent women MPs Julia Goldsworthy and Sarah Teather.

Mr Huhne, 53, the MP for Eastleigh in Hampshire, launched his campaign on Wednesday with a promise to create a "fairer and greener society". He enjoys the backing of Lib Dem frontbenchers Lynne Featherstone, Tom Brake and Sandra Gidley.

Birmingham Yardley MP John Hemming, who had been sounding out parliamentary support for a challenge for the leadership, conceded he would not secure the necessary seven MPs' nominations.

With a result expected by December 17, whichever of the two candidates wins the election will become the leader with the least parliamentary experience in the party's history - both are former MEPs who were first elected to the House of Commons in 2005.