Ed Davey has used his conference speech in Bournemouth to reposition the Liberal Democrats as the main opposition to Reform UK, declaring a choice between his party and 'Trump's America reshaped into Farage's Britain'. The bullish leader, buoyed by a year of electoral success and 72 MPs settled in Westminster, presented his party as a key player in any future centre-left coalition.
Davey attacked both the Conservatives and Labour for losing the country's trust, and took aim at the BBC for its coverage of Reform. He highlighted the Lib Dems' record on free school lunches and support for carers, policies that were actually introduced by Labour, but claimed credit for them nonetheless. The speech was designed to appeal to voters disillusioned with the two main parties.
However, some observers noted a lack of spontaneity in the applause, which appeared to follow pre-marked cues. The most enthusiastic response came when Davey discussed Gaza and recognition of the State of Palestine, an issue that clearly energised the conference floor. Even a guide dog joined in with barks at that point.
Political analyst Prof John Curtice has suggested the Lib Dems may have maxed out their gains in their current form and will need to reinvent themselves in the coming years. But for now, the party is enjoying a moment of unity and confidence, with no immediate challengers to Davey's leadership.
Davey's speech coincided with a UN address by Donald Trump, in which the US president dismissed the UN, criticised European leaders, and made false claims about London being under sharia law. Davey saw this as a gift, allowing him to contrast his party's values with what he called the 'Sun Bed God' of the right.
