Senior Liberal Democrats have waded into the leadership race with one describing party rows as "depressing" and another senior figure calling Chris Huhne an egotistical "loner".

In an interview with the Parliamentary Monitor magazine, MP Matthew Taylor expressed concern at the conduct of Huhne and his rival Nick Clegg.

Both men are battling to succeed Sir Menzies Campbell.

Taylor said: "I was one of the two MPs who nominated Paddy Ashdown; I ran Charles Kennedy's leadership campaign; and I wrote the core case and signed the campaign literature for Sir Menzies' campaign, so this is the first party leadership race that I have not been at the very heart of.

"In terms of leadership races, I have seen it all and there is always a moment when someone stupidly creates a row when it doesn't need to happen.

"The row between Chris and Nick is our moment for that. If the candidates are sensible and worthy of the leadership they need to understand that they will need to work with each other afterwards, and what they say now about each other will be used by our opponents afterwards.

"It is depressing that we have got caught in that trap. One of the tests for both candidates is how they get us out of it."

Meanwhile, in a separate article for the Parliamentary Monitor, the leader of liberal MEPs from across the European Union criticised Huhne's personality.

Assessing the candidates, Graham Watson said: "Nick is a loyalist, a team player, with an inclusive style; which is why, I imagine, more of my colleagues at Westminster and so many of us in Brussels have chosen to back the younger man.

"Chris is more the loner with a deep personal ambition: immensely able, but with an ego to match. Steel versus Owen? The comparison is inadequate, but I recall that the former saw off the latter."