Davey says Lib Dems are 'firewall against Farage' as conference begins

Sir Ed Davey said the Liberal Democrats are "a firewall against Nigel Farage and Reform" as the party's conference began in Brighton.

The Lib Dem leader sought to strike a more combative stance as he faced down criticism from his own MPs that the party was struggling for relevance and being too polite about problems.

On the first day of the autumn conference, Sir Ed warned an "unholy alliance" between Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch and Farage could turn the UK into a "Trump satellite state".

Addressing speculation about a possible snap election, he said the party was ready to fight and would build its so-called orange wall even higher by winning more than its 2024 record of 72 MPs.

Sir Ed's attention-grabbing stunts helped raise the party's profile ahead of the last election, but recent polling showed 43% of respondents were unclear what the Liberal Democrats stand for, with just over half describing them as "weak".

South Cotswolds MP Roz Savage criticised Sir Ed's leadership ahead of conference, urging the party to rediscover its "insurgent spirit" rather than being the "polite custodians of a system that leaves people feeling powerless".

Speaking on the pebbles of Brighton Beach, Sir Ed dismissed those concerns and told reporters the Liberal Democrats would fight to stop a Reform government.

"One of the things that makes us unique is that we are a firewall against Nigel Farage and Reform," he said.