Ailbhe Rea: Lib Dems Try to Navigate the UK’s Shifting Politics
Ed Davey, during his keynote speech at the party's annual autumn conference in Bournemouth.
Photographer: Carlos Jasso/Bloomberg
The Liberal Democrats have, in theory, much to be cheerful about on this, the final day of their party conference here in sunny Bournemouth. In 2024 they saw their best general election performance in over 100 years, and they’re riding high from their seventh consecutive year of gains in local elections earlier this year. With the party hoping for further advances at next year’s local, Welsh and Scottish elections, the horizon is, in theory, clear.
Yet here overlooking the beautiful Bournemouth beach, the Liberal Democrats are all too aware that the political sands have shifted beneath them. Reform UK is now dominating British politics, and the Labour government that Liberal Democrats had high hopes for is struggling and unpopular. Both developments present concerns for this centrist, liberal party, as well as opportunities.
First, the opportunities. As Labour and the Conservatives race to the right on immigration, a vast amount of space has opened up for Ed Davey, the Liberal Democrat leader, to be a clear critical voice on Reform’s Nigel Farage and on Donald Trump, and a progressive voice on issues that Labour has become squeamish about. Davey recently described Elon Musk as a “criminal” and told Sky News that he’s “not at all” worried about the Tesla founder suing him.