Liberal Democrat leadership hopeful Norman Lamb has received the backing of an unlikely fan – former N-Dubz star Dappy.

The rapper told his 859,000 followers on Twitter that he was a fan of the North Norfolk MP, who is running to replace Nick Clegg after the party’s disastrous showing at the election.

Mr Lamb’s son, Archie, works in the music industry and manages acts including Dappy and his father has previously backed his business including remortgaging his house to help finance the career of Tinchy Stryder.

Dappy’s previous involvement in politics did not end well – he and the rest of his band were dumped from a government anti-bullying campaign after it emerged that he had harassed a woman who he said insulted him during an interview on Radio One.