A senior Liberal Democrat MP has left the party's front bench in what is reported to be an attempt to remove leader Sir Ed Davey. The party confirmed that Charlie Maynard, the MP for Witney, stepped down as a Treasury spokesman on Friday.
The Financial Times reported that the resignation is intended to trigger Sir Ed's removal. Mr Maynard is reported to have asked parliamentary colleagues to back a vote of no confidence in the leader.
Deputy leader backs Sir Ed
Lib Dem deputy leader Daisy Cooper backed Sir Ed, saying the "vast majority" of the party's MPs wanted him to remain as leader and were "furious at this distraction".
She said: "We Liberal Democrats are the last line of defence against a Reform UK government, and Ed is determined to lead a strong and united party into the next general election whenever it comes.
"As Ed said at conference we are in the fight of our lives against the right who want to turn our country into their version of Trump's America."
Mr Maynard declined to comment.
Frustration since 2024 election
His resignation comes amid reported frustration with the party's lack of progress since the 2024 election, which saw it secure a record 72 MPs. Since then, the party has gained little ground in the polls, with the latest YouGov survey putting the Liberal Democrats on 11% – just below their share in 2024.
On Friday evening, other senior Lib Dems came out in support of Sir Ed's leadership. Former leader Tim Farron, the party's environment spokesman, said: "Ed won us our best election result since Lloyd George's day, most polls suggest we'll hold or even add to those record numbers of MPs.
"To think we're helped by this kind of rubbish, you'd need to be smoking the kind of stuff even we aren't in favour of legalising."
Support and dissent within the party
Lib Dem science spokeswoman Victoria Collins said Sir Ed had "led us to a historic win", adding: "Alongside many colleagues, I'm focused on delivering for local people, shaping our nation's future for the better and standing as a united party to take on the right."
But a Lib Dem source suggested that Mr Maynard could have as many as 20 MPs willing to support him. Backbench MP Christine Jardine told BBC Newsnight there had been "frustrations" about a lack of progress since 2024, but said Sir Ed's critics needed to put forward an alternative.
She said: "Don't just say, well, we have to change the leader. Bring me an alternative. Tell me what it is that we can do better and I'll think about it."
