Jo Swinson, who is expected to be the new leader of the Liberal Democrats, is not a person of half measures.

Even before she is officially at the helm of the party, she’s talking about how much she would enjoy being Prime Minister – a little premature some might think.

But Swinson is a high-flyer and, unlike some of her predecessors, will not be concerned so much about saving this ailing party from extinction, but from taking it to the very top of the political agenda.

Over the past two or three decades this party has been reduced to something approaching

single-figure membership of the House of Commons, with the glorious past of their history over the past century something totally unlikely to be repeated.

But Swinson does not think in those terms. After the disastrous leadership of Nick Clegg, she is looking forward to what the cliche-writers describe as the sunlit uplands for the party.

No more riding on the backs of the Labour and Conservative parties – but thinking through their own policies without reference to their opponents. In short, she plans to see the Liberal Democrats climbing up the opinion polls – which they have already started to do since Brexit – and becoming an important force in their own political right.

They have acquired a new and important member in Chuka Umunna, who was a contestant for the Labour party leadership before pulling out and subsequently joining the breakaway Change UK party, which he’s now left.

But will he be content to play second fiddle in the Liberal Democrats to politicians who many regard as inferior political activists?

Whoever becomes leader of the Liberal Democrats, whether it’s Swinson or possibly Ed Davey, may have a problem on their hands with Chuka, not exactly a menacing figure, but a possible leadership challenger in the weeks to come.

So whether it will be a peaceful handover, or one which turns difficult in the days ahead, remains to be seen.

But now the party is riding higher in public popularity than it has been doing for years.