The Liberal Democrats have reclaimed their position as the third largest party in Westminster, and they’re not afraid to bring a dash of quirkiness to British politics. This was transparent at their recent Brighton conference, running until Tuesday, where they flaunted their affection for pop culture staples, particularly Abba, and unconventional publicity stunts such as bungee jumping to launch political policies.
Party head Ed Davey, infamous for his dad-style dance moves and boundless enthusiasm, announced his Brighton arrival via jet ski. It’s clear to see Lib Dems know how to enjoy themselves. And why shouldn’t they? They ripped through traditional Conservative strongholds in southern England in the July election, securing a record 72 seats – a stark contrast to their meager 11 seats in the 2019 election.
The party’s triumph was mirrored in the conference’s high-spirited playlist, featuring an abundance of lively Abba songs, Neil Diamond’s Sweet Caroline, Journey’s Don’t Stop Believing and other selections from the ’70s. Davey concluded his speech at a boisterous members’ gathering on Saturday evening with an indie surprise – The Dog Days Are Over by Florence and the Machine.
Their success, however, is overshadowed by the looming presence of a formidable new Labour government, which commands a formidable 158-seat majority and feels no need to reach a compromise. The burning question now is: what future lies ahead for the Lib Dems as they set their sights on influencing Westminster significantly?
Signs of dissatisfaction reshaped the upbeat atmosphere on Sunday as devotees noticed a lack of aggression amongst their spoken persons in pushing for their priorities: reversing Brexit and reintegration in the Single Market and, ultimately, the European Union.
A spotlight was shone on these tensions during a conference side event on Sunday organised by UK in a Changing Europe, a scholarly think tank connected to King’s College, London. Several members insisted that Lib Dem MPs be more forthright on European issues. Layla Moran, currently the Lib Dem foreign affairs spokeswoman, was prompted by Anand Menon, a politics professor and event chairman, to clarify the party’s position regarding the EU.
The politics professor and event host, Anand Menon, posed a question to Layla Moran, the current Lib Dem spokeswoman for foreign affairs, about the party’s EU position. While the July manifesto alluded to the party’s inclination towards Europe, a significant hush enveloped its leadership throughout the campaign, as Davey concentrated on attracting ex-Conservative voters, some of whom supported Brexit.
Menon accused Moran of evading the topic, to which she responded affirmatively of her pro-European stance. Moran, who is predicted to be reassigned from the foreign affairs portfolio in the near future, added that when faced with a monumental challenge, one should start from the bottom rather than the top.
The Lib Dem’s European strategy, Moran explained, involves a three-tier process. The first approach includes addressing minor EU matters such as persuading the Labour party to approve a programme that allows European students to work and travel in the UK, as well as enhancing Brexit trade conditions.
The party intends to advocate for a return to the Single Market afterwards, according to Moran. Her long-term vision is to champion Britain’s re-entry into the EU. Her stance garnered mixed reactions, with some members expressing disappointment while others more receptive and supportive of her gradual strategy.
Ed Davey, the party leader, effectively championed the need for increased funding to the National Health Service during the election, drawing from his personal experience of securing care for his disabled son. By focusing on high-priority issues for voters such as healthcare and contamination of UK waterways during the July election, the Lib Dems witnessed a turnabout in political fortunes.
Eloquent in his advocacy for better investment in the NHS, Davey kept health care at the forefront during the Brighton conference. Despite this focus, Brexit remained a lingering political issue. Deputy leader Daisy Cooper also indicated that health and social care would represent the party’s primary concern for the next parliamentary term, spanning five years.
Despite the fact that surveys indicate most constituents now regret Brexit, Moran asserted that during the electoral campaign, the UK’s relationship with the EU was seldom discussed. A party member retorted that if the Liberal Democrats avoided this topic, it would naturally not surface in doorstep conversations. Moran suggested that the party needed to adjust its political tactics in response to the public’s emotional fatigue from Brexit debates, hence the focusing on other issues like the NHS. She dismissed accusations of the party missing a chance to capitalise on Labour’s internal rifts by keeping the EU discussions low-key.
Davey disclosed his personal wishes for the failure of Donald Trump in the upcoming US presidential election, referring to him as a ‘disaster.’ He also expressed his support for allowing Ukraine access to British Storm Shadow missiles for targeting inside Russia during a Q&A session. Furthermore, Davey promised to push for increased investment in the NHS. However, the party’s pro-EU grassroots members wished Davey to be more vocal about the Brexit issue. He reassured them by stating that they knew where the party’s loyalties lay.