By DAVID WILCOCK, DEPUTY POLITICAL EDITOR
Published: | Updated:
Sir Ed Davey has signalled that the Lib Dems would be ready to do a deal with Labour to keep the Right out of power at the next election.
The under-pressure party leader said a Conservative-Reform coalition would be 'hugely damaging' as polls suggest an election held now would leave no single party in overall control of the Commons.
Sir Ed spoke out after seeing off a half-hearted coup by disgruntled MPs unhappy that the party has not used its 2024 election wins to make further political inroads.
Lib Dem MP Charlie Maynard quit his frontbench role last week, with reports suggesting the move was intended to trigger a vote of confidence in Sir Ed's leadership.
But after a marathon meeting of the parliamentary party on Tuesday, no vote took place and Sir Ed remained in post.
Speaking to the Sunday Times today he said: 'I think politicians should always want to get into government.
The under-pressure party leader said a Conservative-Reform coalition would be' 'hugely damaging' as polls suggest an election held now would leave no single party in overall control
There are signs that the Tories under Kemi Badenoch are to make a harder attempt to win back seats lost to the Lib Dems in the affluent South with a series of tax cut offers
'I had the huge privilege of being in government and we got lots of Liberal Democrat things done.
'We stopped the Conservatives doing lots of things that they wanted to do. So being in power does give you that ability to shape the future of the country and that's what we want to do.'
He cautioned against 'reading far too much' into his comments, but the only realistic prospect of power for the Lib Dems comes in the form of a coalition.
On that subject he also said: 'There's a real danger, I think, that Reform and the Conservatives could form a coalition.
'That would be hugely damaging for our country.'
But his words would seem to be very much aimed at Lib Dems unhappy with his leadership. He also pointedly said that Tuesday's meeting took place in a large room in Westminster, a nod to how the party went from 11 MPs in 2019 to 72 in 2024.
Mr Maynard's resignation came amid reported frustration with the party's lack of progress since the 2024 election.
The party has gained little ground in the polls, with the latest YouGov survey putting the Liberal Democrats on 11 per cent – just below their share in 2024.
There are also signs that the Tories under Kemi Badenoch are to make a harder attempt to win back seats lost to the Lib Dems in the affluent South with a series of tax cut offers.