Next Lib Dem leader: Latest odds and predictions on who will replace Jo Swinson

A vacancy has opened for the position of Liberal Democrat leader after Jo Swinson lost her seat in one of the general election's biggest upsets.

Ed Davey MP will act with Baroness Sal Brinton as joint leaders of the party until a leadership election in the New Year.

The Lib Dems now have just seven seats in Parliament.

Who are the contenders for the new leader of the party? Here are the latest odds and predictions.

Who will replace Jo Swinson as Lib Dem leader?

Luciana Berger, who quit Labour over anti-Semitism, was favourite for leader but was defeated in her fight for Finchley and Golders Green.

Chuka Umunna, once tipped for Labour leader before defecting, was also a potential Lib Dem leader. But he, too, was defeated on Thursday night.

Lib Dem veteran and former leader Vince Cable, 75, vowed to step down at the next election - planned for 2022 before the 2019 snap poll was announced.

Unless he makes a grand return, he is gone too. So who is left?

Interim leader Ed Davey is the bookies favourite to replace Ms Swinson, at 5/6 on Betfair. The MP for Kingston and Surbiton served as Parliamentary Under Secretary of State in the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills during the Lib Dem-Tory coalition.

Layla Moran has now become a likely candidate, after retaining her Oxford seat. However, she has been rejected by the party before when she lost to Jo Swinson at the last leadership contest. She is the bookies second favourite for leader at 11/8 odds

Sarah Olney MP, who provided one of few positive moments for the Lib Dems when she ousted former Conservative London Mayor candidate Zac Goldsmith, in Richmond Park, is a dark horse for the position. While an outside contender at odds of 40/1 she may ascend the party's ranks quickly.

How long has Jo Swinson been the leader of the Lib Dems?

Ms Swinson, 39, won the Lib Dem leadership election on July 22 this year.

It came after Vince Cable announced he would relinquish his post in May.

Ms Swinson's appointment made her the first ever female leader of the party and also the youngest person to hold the position.

When did Jo Swinson first get elected as a Lib Dem MP?

She was first elected to the House of Commons in 2005, taking over from Labour as MP for East Dunbartonshire with a majority of 4,000. She was just 25 years old at the time.

While Ms Swinson managed to hold onto her seat for five years, but was defeated by the SNP in 2015.

Two years later in 2017, she took back her seat in East Dunbartonshire, as support for the SNP fell across Scotland.