TIM Farron has brought the curtain down on months of speculation after confirming his intention to run as a candidate for the Liberal Democrat party leadership.

Over the past few months the 44-year-old has continuously refused to be drawn on his future role in the party despite suggestions in political circles that he was in line to replace Nick Clegg following the General Election.

Bookies instantly made the three-term MP for Westmorland and Lonsdale hot favourite for the role after Mr Clegg quit in the wake of his party’s disastrous performance in the election.

The former party president has spent the week mulling over his future and gauging opinion from constituents.

Yesterday he promised to remain 'Westmorland's man in Westminster', adding: "I want to be the person who helps our party fightback and give Britain the liberal voice it needs."

Mr Farron was just one of eight of the party’s 57 MPs to retain his place in Westminster but did see his majority fall from 12,264 to 8,949.

Former Health Minister Norman Lamb, pictured, who held his Norfolk North seat with a reduced majority of 4,043, is the only other candidate to have so far thrown his hat into the ring for what is shaping up to be a two-way fight for leadership.

The Westmorland Gazette: Norman Lamb MP

And Mr Farron is under no illusion of the scale of the task ahead to bring his party back from the brink.

“It is an enormous job but starting from a building that is burned to the ground is easier to rebuild than one that is just badly damaged,” said Mr Farron, who was largely untainted by the coalition government and rebelled against raising tuition fees and the bedroom tax. 

“There are thousands of new members in the country who have thrown their weight behind us and they are going to be part of that rebuild.

“There is a period of mourning and grief to go through but at the same time if we can’t be positive about the thrill of fighting back and proving everyone wrong then there is something wrong.”

The leaders of the Scottish and Welsh Liberal Democrats, Willie Rennie and Kirsty Williams, have given their support to Mr Farron, describing him as a ‘committed liberal, a brilliant communicator, an outstanding campaigner and an inspirational leader’.

Mr Farron has even received the backing of Ben Berry, the Conservative councillor for Windermere, Applethwaite and Troutbeck.

“Having an MP with clout in Westminster could be massively beneficial to our area,” he said. “If we want more services at Westmorland General, infrastructure spend, industrial jobs or the development of a creative arts hub, then this could be the best way to do that. 

"We should all be proud of having an MP with ambition to lead a major party.”

The election was dubbed as one of the most difficult to call in recent years but it never turned out that way as the Conservatives romped home to a majority Government.

The morning after the night before, Labour leader Ed Miliband, UKIP’s Nigel Farage and Mr Clegg all fell on their sword – although Mr Farage’s resignation has since been rejected.

But Mr Farron insisted his former leader did not have to bite the bullet: “I think we have to take collective responsibility for the result," he said. “I believe he did what was right by the country by entering the coalition which was personally very damaging to himself but he managed to achieve an awful lot.”

Ballot papers will be sent to party members on June 24 and must be returned by July 15. The result will be declared on July 16.