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Ed Davey facing calls to quit as Lib Dems warn party is 'sleepwalking into irrelevance' at Brighton conference

From the Newshound archive · first published 22 September 2026 · last updated 23 September 2026.

Ed Davey facing calls to quit as Lib Dems warn party is 'sleepwalking into irrelevance' at Brighton conference

Sir Ed Davey is under mounting pressure over the Liberal Democrats' stalled poll ratings, with a Devon County Council leader publicly telling the BBC he is not the right man to lead the party. Davey hit back, insisting he has 'no ceiling' on ambitions and called the Lib Dems 'the most united' party in British politics.

Despite winning a record 72 MPs in 2024 on just 12% of the vote, the party has seen no real growth in support since the election.

The conference was split between those backing Davey's target-seat strategy and those demanding a bolder national message to compete with Labour, Reform and the Greens.

Pollster More in Common found the most common response when voters were asked to describe the Lib Dems in a word or two was simply 'don't know'.

MoreThe TelegraphEd Davey’s Lib Dems are now a dead party walkingThe GuardianLib Dems torn over whether to be voters’ first choice or the route to block Reform - The GuardianMetroLib Dems are split on why nobody's talking about them - and whether it mattersThe IndependentEd Davey is facing calls to quit as Lib Dem leader – here’s what voters thinkThe Jewish Chronicle“The East End stood firm on Cable Street….but something feels different this time”, warns Ed Davey on anti-migrant protests
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