Government and campaigns
The Liberal Democrats gathered in Bournemouth this week for their annual conference, the bright and colourful coastal setting reflecting the mood of a party keen to maintain profile and not be driven out of the mainstream political debate with all the focus on Reform. While much of the media spotlight fell on leader Sir Ed Davey’s headline-grabbing stunts and the party’s tough stance towards figures like Nigel Farage, Elon Musk and Donald Trump, behind the theatre the Lib Dems were working to sharpen their identity as Britain’s third party.
With 72 MPs following their best general election result in a century, the party is stronger in parliamentary terms than it has been for decades. The challenge now is to convert that parliamentary presence into real influence, not just as an alternative to Labour and the Conservatives, but also to compete for votes with Reform.
“How to beat Reform” was the thread running through much of the conference. The party launched Reform Watch, a grassroots initiative encouraging councillors and activists to monitor Farage’s movement locally. The Lib Dems also sought to reclaim the language of patriotism, insisting their vision, rooted in community, service and optimism.
The most eye-catching policy announcement was on immigration. Ed Davey pledged an emergency programme to clear the 70,000-case asylum backlog within six months. His plan includes temporary “Nightingale” processing centres and tripling the number of caseworkers, echoing ideas previously set out by Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch. Davey argued this would save money, reduce reliance on hotels and end what he called the Conservatives’ “deliberate” backlog strategy. The Lib Dems would also give asylum seekers the right to work while awaiting decisions.
Health was central to the conference. North Shropshire MP Helen Morgan set out plans to end “corridor care” in the NHS, including a guarantee of GP appointments within seven days, £50 million annually for new ambulance stations, and the recruitment of more community first responders. Tackling regional inequalities and moving more services into local communities were also high on the agenda.
Ed Davey unveiled a Ten-Year Cancer Plan, guaranteeing urgent cancer patients treatment within 62 days. It includes creating a new National Cancer Research Institute, fresh investment in mRNA vaccines, and targeted recruitment of leading global cancer scientists.
Carers remain central to the Lib Dem platform. The party promised reform of Carer’s Allowance and wider support systems, to help people balance work with caring responsibilities, with care recognised as a core social value rather than an afterthought.
The Lib Dems reaffirmed their environmental credentials. The Leading the Way motion warned the UK is on track to miss its net zero targets, while also highlighting biodiversity loss and air pollution. In a notable shift, the party endorsed small modular nuclear reactors alongside renewables, signalling a pragmatic approach to energy. They set out ambitions to halve household energy bills by 2035 through a rapid expansion of wind and solar, ending reliance on fossil fuels.
Digital policy was also discussed. Science and Technology spokesperson Victoria Collins called for a “doomscrolling cap” to protect children from excessive social media use. The party also revisited the idea of digital ID cards, once rejected during the Coalition years.
Conference pledges extended across public services, with promises to restore the NHS principle of universal access, improve GP and dental care, and expand urgent and emergency provision. The party also pledged action on crime and anti-social behaviour, alongside a renewed focus on tackling the housing crisis and creating a fairer society with opportunity for all.
Europe returned to the Lib Dem agenda, with a call to rebuild the UK’s relationship with its nearest neighbours. Proposals included a new Customs Union to remove trade barriers, a pathway back to the Single Market, and a “Coalition of the Willing” with European and Commonwealth allies to stand up to Donald Trump’s tariffs.
The Lib Dem conference underlined a party eager to turn recent gains into lasting influence, positioning itself as a challenger to both the main parties and Reform.
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