The UK Liberal Democrats’ Autumn Conference wrapped up this week in Bournemouth, with party leader Sir Ed Davey arriving by marching band and leaving delivering a strong message on the choices we face: a future governed by decency, pluralism and individual rights, or a drift toward division and reaction, warning that without action, the UK risks becoming “Farage’s version of Trump’s America”.
In his leader’s address, Sir Davey framed the political choice facing the country as “our United Kingdom” versus “Farage’s Britain” drawing contrasts with Trump’s America on the NHS, gun laws, online safety and civil rights.
Buoyed by the party’s highest-ever number of seats in Parliament (72 MPs) and electing more local councillors in the local elections for the seventh year in a row, he pitched the LibDems as the vehicle for “decent, tolerant” British values and a pro-Europe economic reset.
“Friends, when we were last here in Bournemouth – two years ago – I challenged us to get more Liberal Democrats elected to Parliament. And you rose to that challenge,” he said.
“I said we needed to get the Conservatives out of Number 10. And you got that job done too. And now our new team of 72 MPs are getting their jobs done, for their constituents. 72 brilliant community champions, fighting for their local hospitals and schools, local businesses and their local environment too. Paying back the trust of voters, by working hard for their communities every day.”
In his speech, Davey set out priorities to “fix the NHS,” value carers, accelerate clean energy to cut bills by 2035, and rebuild economic ties with Europe, including a proposed customs union as a step back toward the Single Market. He also attacked online platforms over child safety and urged “Trump-proofing” the UK from populist influence.
“The last few years have been the most successful our party has ever had… So far. Because friends, let me tell you this: In the immortal words of Frank Sinatra, the best is yet to come! And yes, friends, I will keep doing it My Way. So get the bungee harness ready… Because my ambition – for our party, our values, our ideas – has no ceiling. And our ambition for our country has no ceiling either,” he said.
“With the threat that Reform now poses to our country and our democracy – friends, we have a moral responsibility to aim high. And we have a historic opportunity to win big – as the only party now representing the views and values of Britain’s decent silent majority.”
Concluding his remarks, he laid down an ambitious goal: to overtake the Conservatives in number of seats at the next general election, something the party hasn’t achieved since 1910. He appealed directly to disenchanted Conservative voters to consider joining a “liberal realignment” in British politics.
Elsewhere across the four days, members debated and approved a further series of policy motions on such important subjects including: making the EU-UK reset count, a liberal vision for digital rights; building a fair asylum system; certainty for Ukrainian children living in the UK; towards a ceasefire and political resolution in Sudan; and defending women’s rights across the globe.
ALDE Party organised the annual international reception and Vice President Malik Azmani participated in a panel discussion on how to build resilient societies through EU-UK cooperation on security, migration and growth.
Photo: Liberal Democrats