Lib Dems hae a ‘moral responsibility’ tae block Reform, says Ed Davey as the pairty gears up for a snap election

The Liberal Democrats hae begun wark on a new manifesto in case o a possible snap election, as Ed Davey said he unnerstuid the frustrations o some o his MPs that fear the pairty message is currently at risk o gettin tint.

But Davey forbye urged his pairty no tae panic at static poll ratin's, arguin that wi tactical votin an fragmentit poleetical loyalties, he fully expecks the pairty tae dae even better at the niest election than in 2024, whan it wan 72 seats, the heichest total for a century.

Speakin afore the pairty annual conference in Brighton, Davey warnt that discepline an focus war vital, gien whit he described as their moral responsibility in blockin a Reform-led govrenment, predictin that Kemi Badenoch wad eventually seek an alliance wi Nigel Farage pairty.

A manifesto workin group, led by the Cheadle MP Tom Morrison, has already been airtit, Davey said, meanin the pairty can be ready if Andy Burnham caws an election. We dinna normally dae it this early, he said.

The Lib Dems already hae a nummer o policies in place, includin an economic proposal based aboot seekin tae rejoin the EU single market, wi a similarly Brussels-focused immigration policy o signin up tae a Europe-wide pact on migration an asylum.

The pairty national poll ratin's are largely static at aboot 12% or 13%, wi the Lib Dems spendin muckle o this year in fifth place ahint Reform, Labour, the Conservatives an a resurgent Green pairty.

Some o Davey MPs compleen privately aboot whit they see as an owerly slaw an cautious approach tae baith policy an rhetoric, sayin this has sidelined the pairty frae the national debate.

Houever, it is by nae means a unanimous view, wi ithers sayin the pace has pickit up syne the appointment o the pairty new poleetical director James Holt, a veteran o the coalition years wha syne spent nearly a decade workin wi the Duke an Duchess o Sussex.

Davey said he unnerstuid the concerns, but said MPs shud no get distractit: They are frustratit because they are comin up wi the arguments, they are runnin the campaigns an they dinna get the coverage for them. An I get it, it is frustratin.

Headline poll ratin's, he said, war only a partial guide tae an election in which tactical votin an local campaigns war likely tae play a major role in votes likely tae be split five or even sax ways.

He said: It is gaun tae be a ground war muckle mair than fowk think, an guid for us because we are braw at ground wars an at the community politics that turns poll ratin's into laids o seats.

Pairty strategists are confident they can defend muckle o the 60-plus sae-cawed blue waw seats wan frae the Conservatives in 2024 – a zone Davey nou refers tae as the orange waw – an add tae that tally. A nummer o candidates are already in place in target seats after a streamlinin o the selection process.

Sic efforts, Davey predictit, cud be the ane thing standin in the way o a Nigel Farage govrenment.

He said: I hae felt for a lang time that we hae a moral responsibility in our pairty. It wechs heavily on my shouthers, because whan I see men in black shirts an balaclavas, an whan I see overt racism at the level we are seein it, we hae tae win. That is a burden for me, kennin we juist hae tae be as smart as we possibly can.

Some Lib Dems argue that this mission tae hoover up anti-Reform sentiment actually maks the pairty slightly subterranean profile a potential benefit, an that Davey shud ignore voices callin for him tae be bolder or mair outspoken.

Ane MP said: Unalike Reform an the Greens, we hae warkit oot hou tae use the electoral system, an if we want tae stop bad things happenin, we hae tae tailor our campaignin tae that reality. If, say, ye embrace ane side in a culture war, ye divide your community.

Anither MP said Davey shud embrace his centrist dad image: He is a safe pair o haunds, which is a valuable thing these days. He cud say something a bit crazy tae appeal tae the core an increase our pollin ratin's … but it wadna win us a single extra seat.

Altho there are nae moves tae challenge Davey as leader, some Lib Dems are pushin for the pairty tae set oot whit it represents.

We risk bein deid in the watter if we canna airticulate a proper veesion o whit we are, an whit leeberalism is, ane MP warnt. Fowk ken whit Labour an the Conservatives staund for. If they hae an opinion aboot us, it is aften that we are slightly nicer Tories.

Yes, Ed has been our maist successful leader ever. But ye hae tae progress or ye are doomt, an at the moment it feels a bit static.