Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey has asserted that his party bears a moral responsibility to prevent Nigel Farage and his Reform UK party from gaining power.
Speaking with the BBC at his party’s autumn conference, Sir Ed noted a decline in voter allegiance to both Labour and the Conservatives, with some individuals being drawn to Reform.
He posited, however, that the Liberal Democrats could present a viable alternative by championing “radical change… in tune with British values”.
In contrast, he argued that Farage’s vision would see the UK mirror “Trump’s America”.
While the Liberal Democrats secured 72 seats in last year’s general election compared to Reform’s five, recent opinion polls have indicated a lead for Farage’s party.
Speaking with the BBC’s political editor Chris Mason, Sir Ed acknowledged his party’s “momentum” while admitting it was “not quite reflected in the polls as much as I would like to see”.
“We have a challenge. We have got to take the fight to Reform.”
Asked how he could win over Reform voters, Sir Ed said people were worried about illegal immigration and that his party was urging the government to call a national emergency to deal with the backlog in processing asylum claims.
“If we get rid of that asylum backlog and close the asylum hotels, I think that would reassure many communities.”
Beyond immigration, he contended that voters are also concerned about the cost of living, emphasizing that the Liberal Democrats have policies designed to lower energy bills.
During their autumn conference in Bournemouth, the Liberal Democrats have been distributing Lego models depicting Nigel Farage as a “plastic patriot.”
Asked if his party was obsessed with or frightened by Farage, Sir Ed said: “I am certainly not frightened – the issue is we need to expose him.
“I think the more he comes under scrutiny the more he will be seen to fail.”
Sir Ed argued that a Reform government would make the UK more “like Trump’s America” adding: “I think that’ll be harsh and it’s not true to British values.”
He said his party offered “the change that is in tune with those values – to have a decent caring country”.
He said voters had “lost trust” in a Labour government that had “failed” and his party could provide an alternative.
The Liberal Democrat leader criticised the BBC’s coverage of Reform UK and accused the BBC News website of failing to provide “enough scrutiny” of Farage’s party.
“We’re seeing some improvements and long it may continue because the BBC has a really important role.
“That’s one of the reasons why Liberal Democrats have championed the BBC and when it’s not performing that role it’s not unreasonable is it for people to call it out.”
A BBC spokesperson says: “The BBC is committed to achieving due impartiality in all its output and gives appropriate levels of scrutiny to all political parties.”
Earlier, the Lib Dems made time on the main stage in Bournemouth for a debate on how they can take on Farage’s party, featuring local councillors from its “Reform Watch” scrutiny team set up by Sir Ed after May’s local elections.
They expressed a hope that a focus on local issues – which Lib Dems see as a traditional strength – would help the party counter the attention Reform has gathered nationwide.
Mike Ross, the leader of Lib Dem-held Hull City Council, where the party faces a challenge from a Reform mayor elected in May, said his party had tried to reframe Reform’s animosity towards net zero goals, for example, as a threat to green investment in the area.
Kent councillor Anthony Hook, where the Lib Dems are now the opposition to a Reform-led council, said the party needed to “up our game and create more content of our own” on social media to take on Farage’s party.
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Liberal Democrats leader Ed Davey speaks to the BBC ahead of this autumn’s party conferences.