In a fiery and uncompromising speech, Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey has launched a blistering broadside against Nigel Farage's Reform UK, delivering one of the most stinging political condemnations of the election campaign so far.
Sir Ed pulled no punches, explicitly branding the right-wing party a haven for racists and extremists. He issued a direct challenge to traditional Conservative voters, urging them to abandon a party he claims has been effectively "taken over" by its Reform-inspired right flank.
A Direct and Damning Accusation
"I'm going to be blunt," Sir Ed declared. "Reform is a home for racists and bigots. And the Conservative Party now resembles Reform far more than it resembles the party of [David] Cameron or even Thatcher."
This stark characterisation marks a significant escalation in rhetoric ahead of the July 4th poll, as political leaders vie to define their opponents in the most negative light possible.
The Conservative Party in Crisis
The Lib Dem leader argued that the historic Conservative party has fundamentally lost its way. He asserted that Prime Minister Rishi Sunak is being "pushed around by the Reform party," forcing him to adopt increasingly hardline positions on issues like immigration and climate change in a desperate attempt to win back voters.
"The Conservative Party has been taken over by the right, by Reform, and it is not the Conservative Party that people voted for in the past," Sir Ed stated, framing the upcoming election as a pivotal moment for the centre-right.
A Plea to Disillusioned Voters
Positioning the Liberal Democrats as the natural home for moderate, former Tory supporters, Sir Ed made a direct appeal: "If you have voted Conservative in the past, but you cannot stomach this Reform-influenced Conservative Party... the Liberal Democrats are on your side."
This strategy is a clear attempt to capitalise on the internal strife within the Conservative party and attract disaffected voters who feel politically homeless amidst the country's rightward shift.
The speech sets a new, aggressive tone for the Lib Dem campaign, directly confronting the rise of Reform UK and framing the political battle as a fight for the soul of British conservatism.
