Maybe the Lib Dems shouldn’t elect a new leader at all. In their current leaderless state, they have jumped 4 percent in the latest ICM poll to put them at a respectable 18 percent. The Tories are down three, but still at the psychologically important 40 percent mark. Labour are on 35 percent, a one percent drop.
The Lib Dem spike is best explained by the amount of coverage they are currently getting thanks to their leadership race. Once the Lib Dems elect a leader they can expect to come under heavy fire, the Tories in particular will be keen to prevent a new Lib Dem leader from gaining any momentum.

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