With an election due to be held by October, the party will be keen to put someone in place as soon as possible

Justin Trudeau’s announcement that he will step down in the coming months means Canada’s Liberal party needs a new leader. The party will announce the winner of the leadership race on 9 March. That person will become prime minister – but might only have weeks on the job.

With the Conservatives eager for an election, the government could fall when parliament returns in late March if other opposition parties join a vote of non-confidence.