Leading article: Huhne has the strongest claim

For a party that must turn its face to the future, however, Mr Huhne is the smart choice. He has stood on one of the greenest platforms of any front-line politician - to the chagrin of Simon Hughes, who can fairly point to a longer environmentalist record. But with an economist's understanding of green taxes, Mr Huhne has a better claim to have thought the issue through. He is a committed European. And his sure-footed campaign should have dispelled any fears that Liberal Democrat members would be taking a risk by voting for him in the ballot that closes on Wednesday.

Mr Hughes has passion; Sir Menzies has steadiness; but it is Mr Huhne who shows the dynamism, creativity and political skill to take the party to a new level.