Bob Constantine's blog: Lessons learned from the Lib Dem defeat

Tonight's West Country at Westminster, being shown here on ITV West Country at 10.40 tonight, is a televised hustings between the two contenders for the leadership of the Liberal Democrats.

The party had a disastrous election in the region, losing every seat, despite a big campaigning push under Nick Clegg.

The two men hoping to succeed him, Norman Lamb and Tim Farron, both set out their visions for the future, and respond to questions from activists in seats the party lost, from Cheltenham to St Ives.

As for lessons learned from the defeat, both men use strong language to admit that the party had "lost trust" of voters.

Norman seeks to draw on his experience as care minister in the last government, Tim on his time as party president who can appeal to rural communities.

And, before flying off to a memorial service for Charles Kennedy, they discuss the letter they both signed urging him to step down as leader. Tim Farron reveals it was his "biggest regret" in politics.

Viewers can decide who "won" this encounter, or whether it was a score-draw.

But the fact is, if the Lib Dem revival does start, it will start in the West - so how party members from our region vote could be crucial in deciding whether Tim Farron or Norman Lamb is the next leader.