Timetable: Lib Dem leader contest

MONDAY 15 OCTOBER

Sir Menzies Campbell sends a letter of resignation to party president Simon Hughes, in the wake of Gordon Brown's announcement that an election before 2009 is unlikely.

TUESDAY 16 OCTOBER

Nominations open for those wanting to enter the race to succeed Sir Menzies Campbell as leader of the Lib Dems. To enter the formal race a candidate must secure the backing of seven Lib Dem MPs and at least 200 members from at least 20 local parties.

WEDNESDAY 31 OCTOBER

Nominations close. Those who have enough support now have seven and a half weeks to put their case to party members. They are allowed to spend up to £50,000 on their campaigns.

WEDNESDAY 21 NOVEMBER

Ballot papers sent out to Liberal Democrat party members across the UK. The election is decided by a secret ballot of all party members - about 70,000 - using the single transferable vote system where candidates are ranked in order.

SATURDAY 15 DECEMBER

Deadline for completed ballot forms. In the 2006 contest, the party asked Electoral Reform Services to oversee the election. The transferable vote system means the last placed candidate drops out in each round, and their second choice votes are given to the remaining candidates until one candidate has 50% of the vote.

TUESDAY 18 DECEMBER

The new leader of the Liberal Democrats will be announced on 18 December, just before the Houses of Parliament rise for their Christmas break.