Liberal Democrat education spokesman Don Foster may run for party leader in the wake of Paddy Ashdown's decision to stand down.

Mr Foster, MP for Bath, said last week: "I am neither ruling it in nor out. There is no vacancy for some time. I will wait until after the European elections to decide whether to throw my name into the hat."

Mr Foster's bid for leadership would be a long shot against race favourites Charles Kennedy, Menzies Campbell and Simon Hughes. He said that if he did not run for leadership he might link up with his preferred candidate, a move that could put him in line for deputy leader. Insiders say that Mr Foster is ideologically closest to Mr Campbell, MP for Fife North-East.

There is speculation that Mr Foster, a former science education lecturer at Bristol 51¹ú²úÊÓƵ and education project director for Bristol local education authority, wants to move from the education team he has headed for seven years.

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Foreign affairs spokesman, the post held by Mr Campbell, might suit a man who lists issues in the developing world and Amnesty International among his interests.

If Mr Foster did move, his deputy Phil Willis (Harrogate and Knaresborough), a former head teacher, would be well placed to take over in education.

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Mr Foster said he was confident that whoever replaced Mr Ashdown, the party's education policy would remain substantively unchanged.