The gloves are off.

Betsan Powys|11:52 UK time, Tuesday, 11 November 2008

I was in Aberystwyth yesterday - Lib Dem territory in parliamentary terms - and missed this warm welcome for the launch of Kirsty Williams' leadership manifesto from the Chair of her opponent, Jenny Randerson's leadership campaign.

"We are delighted that Kirsty has come on board with so many of the ideas that Jenny launched last week such as simplifying local government funding, sabotaging the erosion of civil liberties and building a green economy.

"I'm also pleased that her manifesto reaffirms her support for so much existing party policy.

"Jenny has always wanted this campaign to be a battle of ideas and I know she is really excited about going head to head at the first hustings later this week."

You can't really confirm it from this photograph of Jenny Willott MP but I think we now know the gloves are off.