Ed Davey Is Throwing Away the Lib Dems’ Big Opportunity

THE TELEGRAPH: Why haven’t they come out as the all-out ‘rejoin the EU’ party or shouted from the rooftops about changing the electoral system?

Listening to the political debate ahead of the local elections in England next week, you could be forgiven for imagining that they were all about what damage Reform will do to the Tories and how the Greens will destroy Labour.

But if, like me, you live in a leafy part of south-west London there is a different narrative entirely. Reform is nowhere to be seen and neither are the Greens. Some of the boroughs, like Richmond and Kingston, are virtual one-party fiefdoms; and that party is the Liberal Democrats.

It is surprising how little the Lib Dems feature in discussions since they are the third-largest party in the Commons with 72 seats. They occupy dozens of former Tory constituencies in the South and South West. In 64 of the 72 Lib Dem seats, the Conservatives are second. Only in two are Labour the runners-up. » | Philip Johnston | Tuesday, April 28, 2026

I have written several comments on this blog since Brexit, stating that I have been rather astonished that the LibDems have not gone into elections promising what no other party has been prepared to offer: a return to our friends in the European Union. The LibDems have had a golden opportunity to put clear blue water between the LibDems and all other, then generally pro-Brexit parties. But Ed Davey has lacked the courage to do so. Although I know that he is actually very pro-EU and Britain’s place in it.

This morning, I have been further disappointed in Sir Ed Davey, since I learnt that he voted in favour of that ridiculous illiberal generational smoking ban! How on earth can a man who heads up the Liberal Party be in favour of such a profoundly illiberal policy? Has the gentleman forgotten the true meaning of what it means to be “liberal”.

When I read this morning that he voted in favour of Starmer’s folly and autocratic. Freedom-stealing, ridiculous policy, I had to pinch myself! Was I, perhaps, mistaken? So, I decided to check out what Google AI had to say on the meaning of “liberal politics”. This is what it came up with:

“Liberal politics is a broad political ideology centered on protecting and enhancing individual freedom, autonomy, and rights under the rule of law. It emphasizes democracy, limited government intervention in personal life, civil liberties, and free enterprise, aiming to secure personal dignity and voluntary cooperation over coercion.” [Source: Google AI]

Even though I am no longer a smoker, I consider this legislation to be PROFOUNDLY ILLIBERAL and PROFOUNDLY UNDEMOCRATIC. I shall therefore no longer support the party in its present form. This, of course, renders me politically HOMELESS. The Conservatives Party, my original natural political home, is a party which I can no longer support because of that ridiculous Brexit referendum.

British politics is totally and utterly messed up! — © Mark Alexander

'Donald Trump Is Undermining the BBC - and Interfering with Our Media'

Nov 10, 2025 | Liberal Democrats leader Ed Davey reacts to the resignations of the BBC's director-general and news CEO over questions about bias after a BBC Panorama special spliced Donald Trump's 6 January 2021 speech so it appeared he had encouraged supporters to storm Capitol Hill. Davey defended the BBC and hit out at the US president over 'undermining' the corporation after he called their journalists 'corrupt'.

Trump should keep his nose out of Britain’s business. Trump has FU the USA and now he wants to FU the UK too. No! No! No! — © Mark Alexander

Fighting the Tories, Leading the Lib Dems, and a Coalition with Starmer’s Labour? | Ed Davey

Sep 13, 2023 | What was it like for the Liberal Democrats in coalition? Would Ed Davey be prepared to work alongside Keir Starmer in another coalition government? Is tactical voting a good idea? Join Rory and Alastair as they speak with leader of the Liberal Democrats, Ed Davey, to discuss all these questions and more.

Ed Davey: ‘Tactical Voting Can Lock Tories Out of Power for a Generation’

THE OBSERVER: Lib Dem leader says people lending their votes to rival parties could shut the door on Conservatives at Westminster for years to come

Newly elected Liberal Democrat MP Sarah Dyke with party leader Ed Davey in Frome, Somerset, on Friday. Photograph: Ben Birchall/PA
The Tories could be locked out of power for a generation if supporters of other parties vote tactically at the next general election, the Liberal Democrat leader, Ed Davey, says on Sunday, after his party chalked up another stunning West Country byelection victory.

A massive 29% swing to the Lib Dems saw Sarah Dyke take the Somerton and Frome seat, overturning a Conservative majority of more than 19,200. Davey’s party now has a comfortable 11,000 majority of its own, the largest it has ever had over the Tories in the constituency. » | Toby Helm, Political editor | Sunday, July 23, 2023

As an Arab might say, inshallah! Send this régime packing: this band of corrupt, incompetent, greedy fools! Clowns! Rapacious clowns!

This country needs a business-friendly party to lead it. The Tories used to be that party. Alas, no longer. No business-friendly party would turn its back on the biggest, most-successful single market in the world: The Single Market – a market of 500m or so consumers. Only an idiot would turn its back on such a market.

It is to be hoped that we will soon witness the demise of the Conservatives. We Brits deserve better than this. – © Mark Alexander

Lib Dems Demand End to ‘Conservative Circus’

EXPRESS & STAR: Party leader Sir Ed Davey covered supporters in confetti shot from a canon that read ‘Get these clowns out of No 10’.

Liberal Democrat MP Sarah Dyke with party leader Sir Ed Davey
Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey channelled the circus for the now regular by-election victory PR stunt as he demanded a general election to remove the Conservatives from government.

He pretended to light a circus cannon adorned with the slogan “Get these clowns out of No 10” as yellow confetti was sprayed across dozens of Liberal Democrat supporters who had gathered to celebrate Sarah Dyke’s victory in the Somerton and Frome by-election.

Sir Ed described the gain as “nothing short of spectacular” and said the Lib Dems were now winning in their former heartlands, saying his party was “back in the West Country”. » | E&S | Friday, July 21, 2023

The Conservative Party Is 'Dragging the BBC through the Mud', Says Sir Ed Davey

Apr 28, 2023 | Sir Ed Davey has criticised the Conservative Party's handling of Richard Sharp's appointment to the BBC and said they were "dragging the BBC through the mud". The leader of the Liberal Democrats said: "I think the British public will be very angry. This is another example of this government's incompetence. "Boris Johnson should never have appointed Mr Sharp in the first place and Rishi Sunak should have shown some leadership by sacking him."

Related.

Sir Ed Davey: Johnson Return Would Be 'Disaster'

Leader of the Liberal Democrats Sir Ed Davey MP says that allowing Boris Johnson to stand for the Conservative party leadership would create "more political instability".

Sir Ed said that Johnson had "lied on an industrial scale, he broke the law, he failed to handle a sex abuse case within his own ranks" and was "an absolute disaster".


In my humble opinion, Sir Ed Davey is the man who should be prime minister. He is a very sensible, thoroughly decent politician – a rarity in political life these days. The LibDems are also pro-EU, so that's a huge plus. – © Mark Alexander