HAMPSHIRE MP Chris Huhne's bid to be Liberal Democrat leader came unstuck when he put his fate in the hands of the man dubbed Britain's "most cursed MP".

The Eastleigh MP, left, was forced to put back his London manifesto launch by three hours after asking fellow Lib Dem Lembit Opik to fly him from Wales, where he was a guest on BBC's Question Time.

Their twin engine aircraft was grounded when a combination of fog, ice, rain and snow made it too dangerous to fly.

Mr Huhne then jumped on a train, but it broke down and was cancelled. He eventually reached London - three hours late -thanks to an aide who offered a lift in his car.

At a project which renovates office furniture, the party's treasury spokesman pledged he had "the ideas to set the pace", if Lib Dem members choose him as their next leader.

Mr Opik, also known as "unlucky Lembit", hit the headlines when he became the last Lib Dem to champion Charles Kennedy, even after the former leader confessed to alcoholism.

The qualified pilot then threw his weight behind Winchester MP Mark Oaten - who promptly quit the leadership race after accusations of an affair with a male prostitute.

Mr Opik then announced he would not publicly support any other candidate for fear of bringing bad luck - but agreed to fly Mr Huhne as a favour.

Mr Huhne has suggested the leadership race is a straight fight between himself and acting leader Sir Menzies Campbell, following party president Simon Hughes' admission he was bisexual - after previously denying he was gay.