I've got no ceiling on Lib Dem ambitions, says leader Ed Davey

Lib Dem leader Sir Ed Davey has insisted he is not just aiming to be a junior partner in a coalition government, saying: "I am a candidate to be prime minister."

He also backed the controversial Jackdaw gas field, which the government is expected to green light later this month, saying it had "passed the climate test" and was compatible with a transition to renewables.

Sir Ed has faced criticism from some in his party that he lacks ambition and the vision needed to cut through in a crowded political field.

He acknowledged the "frustration" felt by some of his MPs that the party was not making a bigger impact - and vowed to set out bold policies in his conference speech on Tuesday.

Sir Ed led the Lib Dems to a record 72 MPs at the 2024 election, making big gains at the expense of the Conservatives in southern England, but the party has since slipped to fourth or fifth in national opinion polls, behind Labour, the Tories, the Greens and Reform UK.

Despite this, the Lib Dem leader claimed his party had an "historic opportunity to do far better than anyone imagines at the moment" at the next general election.

"Because the right wing is split," he said, "and fragmented like it's never happened before in over 200 years of British parliamentary elections.

"If we take that opportunity, and I believe we're showing how we can, we'll be a massive force in the next parliament."