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Lib Dem Leadership: Who Are The Contenders?

Lib Dem Leadership: Who Are The Contenders?

The Liberal Democrats will announce the result of their leadership contest later, after some 60,000 party members voted in the election to choose Nick Clegg's successor.

Sky News' Deputy Political Editor Joey Jones and Political Correspondent Sophy Ridge share five things you may not know about the two men hoping to take over.

:: Joey Jones on Tim Farron

1. He's a committed Christian. Actually you did know that. You must have known. It's the only thing people have been going on about during the election (particularly in the context of his abstention on the same-sex marriage vote). You might not be aware that according to the Mail On Sunday, he believes every word of the Bible. "Every hair on your head is numbered," he told the paper. Heaven exists as a physical entity? "Yeah, it's what the Bible tells me."

2. Vince Cable is not among Farronistas. He told Buzzfeed a few months ago: "He's an entertaining speaker and has a bit of a fan club. But I suspect he would not be seen as a very credible leader… he's never been in government and has never had to make difficult decisions."

3. He has said that he has a red line for any future coalition negotiations: Proportional Representation imposed without a referendum. Ambitious!

4. He was once in a band that had "various names", he told Total Politics' former star interviewer Amber Elliott (now Sky News' very own Amber de Botton.) Among the names were Fred The Girl and The Voyeurs.

5. A member of his staff stands to be made very happy when the result is announced, as they bet on him becoming leader years ago when the odds were 40-1.

:: Sophy Ridge on Norman Lamb

1. Norman Lamb is being backed by Dappy from N-Dubz. This is not a joke. Yes, the grey-haired North Norfolk MP has won the backing of the pint-sized rapper, who tweeted: "I'm backing @NormanLamb to become leader of the Liberal Democrats and help put power back in the hands of individuals http://backnorman.co.uk"

2. He also helped launch Tinchy Stryder and remortgaged his house to support his career.

3. His 90-year-old mum has a poster of Lethal Bizzle in her kitchen. If you were wondering why Norman Lamb boasts such impressive connections with Britain’s premier rap artists, it’s because his son Archie is the co-founder of Takeover Entertainment (Tinchy Stryder is his business partner).

4. If there is one issue that drives Norman Lamb to get out of bed in the morning, it’s improving support for mental health. As health minister under the coalition government, he introduced a cap on care costs. He also believes drugs should be legalised.

5. If the Lib Dems are known for their green policies, Norman Lamb has got the pedigree. His father, Hubert Lamb, was a climatologist and one of the first scientists to propose that the climate could change within human experience.