THE two men hoping to become Liberal Democrat leader have faced each other in Southampton.

Tim Farron and Norman Lamb put forward their cases to be next party leader at a hustings at the University of Southampton attended by hundreds of party members.

They are bidding to succeed Nick Clegg, who stood down following the party's disastrous 2015 General Election where it lost all but eight of its 57 seats.

Among those unseated was former Eastleigh MP Mike Thornton, who lost his seat to Conservative Mims Davies.

Tonight Mr Farron and Mr Lamb spoke at a hustings event ahead of the leadership vote later this year, which started with a minute's silence in memory of former party leader Charles Kennedy, who died last week.

Both candidates said going into Government with the Tories and the infamously broken pledge not to raise tuition fees were major factors in the party's slump at the polls.

Speaking to the Daily Echo, North Norfolk MP Mr Lamb, a minister in the Coalition Government, said: "I think we've got to rediscover the ability to talk about our values.

"I want to instigate an intellectual powerhouse to really define what it is to be Liberal in 2015.

I also want to inspire a new generation of people, and young people in particular are liberal in their attitudes.

"We need to be prepared to take risks and be audacious but we need to address things like the housing crisis for young people, which we have failed to address."

He said addressing mental health inequalities, reforming "antiquated" drug laws that "criminalise" young people and reforming prisons were all pledges.

He added: "I have got a track record of fighting for and winning for big Liberal values and I have demonstrated in the past I can do it as a leader of this party."

His rival, former party president and MP for Westmorland and Lonsdale Mr Farron,said: "I think the critical thing is to have a message that people understand and inspires them.

"The Lib Dems did not lose the election because our manifesto wasn't long enough, what we need to do is connect with people and make them feel that we are the party that they won't just vote for but give their time for."

He said housing was a priority for him and that he would be opposing Tory plans to sell off housing association properties, adding: "What on earth is David Cameron doing flogging off housing association homes when we should be expanding them, not selling them?"

Like Mr Lamb, he said tackling climate change would be a key party policy, and said the potential for creating a green economy with facilities similar to the new tidal lagoon in Swansea Bay could create millions of jobs nationwide and thousands in Hampshire.

He continued: "We need to be the party of the nation's conscience again.

"I hope people think I have a style of communicating which cuts through and doesn't sound contrived, because with people losing their trust in politicians that is what we need now."