Ed Davey explains how Lib Dems 'turned map yellow' - and how they want more gains
As the Liberal Democrats prepare to gather in Brighton for their annual conference, party leader Sir Ed Davey sits down to reflect on a significant period of political success, particularly in the South West.
From local candidates to national health concerns, Sir Ed Davey has unpacked what has led to the Liberal Democrats ’ resurgence in a region once firmly in Conservative hands, and what the future may hold.
The Liberal Democrats’ performance in the South West was nothing short of impressive, especially in traditional Tory heartlands. Seven of the 11 seats in Somerset are now held by the Liberal Democrats as they turned the map yellow in July's General Election.
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Davey believes this success is attributed to a combination of local factors, competent candidates, and national concerns that resonated deeply with voters. Health issues, specifically regarding the National Health Service ( NHS ), dominated voter concerns in the region.
“I think a whole range of things,” Davey explains. “People knew that they got great local candidates who I think will be fantastic local MPs, local champions for the area, focusing above all on the health service. There’s no doubt that when we were campaigning everywhere in the country, and probably even more so in the South West, NHS issues were top of people's concerns.”
From ambulance delays to the scarcity of GPs and NHS dentists, the struggles of the NHS were keenly felt across the region.
“You may remember from some of the by-elections we had down in the West Country, and that just followed through, and we came up with lots of ideas to solve the problems. We really were highlighting it, and the Conservatives had no real answers,” Davey says.
Beyond healthcare, the Liberal Democrats’ policies also struck a chord with rural communities, touching on concerns from farming to broadband infrastructure. “I think we also had a really strong offer to rural communities, whether it's on farming specifically, but more broadly, everything from broadband to health services in rural areas,” Davey adds.
Davey claims The Liberal Democrats’ success in the South West was, in part, built on the disillusionment of lifelong Conservative voters. He reflects on how many traditional Tory supporters had become increasingly dissatisfied with their party’s inability to address local issues.
“There was a sense that rural communities who had traditionally supported the Conservatives felt that they were no longer being listened to or heard, and the services were being removed from them,” Davey says, highlighting a deep-rooted feeling of neglect. “They were saying, ‘Hold on a minute, it's not what we want,’ and they liked what we were saying and what we stand for.”
The contrast in values also played a role in this shift. Davey sees the Liberal Democrats as offering the values that Conservative voters once found in their own party but now see lacking. “Lots of people who traditionally voted Conservative support the rule of law, decency, fairness, and didn’t see that in the modern Conservative Party of Boris Johnson and Liz Truss. But they did see it in us,” Davey adds.
For many in the South West, the Liberal Democrats became a “natural home” for those disillusioned with the direction of the Conservative Party. Davey says this alignment of values and a clear focus on solving local issues enabled the Liberal Democrats to capture seats many thought would remain safely Conservative with seats such as Tiverton & Minehead, Torbay, Newton Abbot, North Cornwall, Wells and Mendip Hills, West Dorset, Thornbury and Yate, Cheltenham and Tewkesbury won by the Lib Dems.
With the recent electoral successes, the Liberal Democrats now face the challenge of maintaining momentum. Davey understands that retaining the trust of voters is crucial to future success in the region.
“The first thing is to repay the trust that the voters have put in us,” Davey states. “All the new MPs will be working both within their communities and collectively to represent the West Country and all the counties and communities there as best they can.” He emphasises the importance of following through on their key campaign issues: health services, sewage, and the cost of living crisis.
“If you say that’s what you're going to do, you better go and do it. If you want to keep the trust that people have put in you, that’s the first thing: showing that these new MPs will be on people’s side, campaigning on their priorities.”
Looking ahead, Davey is optimistic about expanding their gains in future elections but is mindful of the work still to be done. “Can we get more MPs in the next election? I hope so. I think it’s a little bit early to talk about that,” he admits. “We’ve got work to do now to prove we deserve the trust, and then we’ll build out from there.”
A key issue that Davey highlights is Labour’s decision to withdraw winter fuel payments for pensioners. For Davey, this is an area where the Liberal Democrats can position themselves as a strong opposition voice, especially in the current cost of living crisis.
“I’m really worried about millions of pensioners. Yes, it’s good that pensioners who are on pension credit can still get it, but there are millions of people above the pension credit limit on low incomes. Pensioners earning £13,000 a year are going to have nothing,” Davey warns.
With energy prices set to rise, this decision could lead to difficult winters for many. Davey has proposed an alternative: reversing tax cuts given to big banks, which would help balance the books while maintaining support for those in need.
“It seemed reasonable to us to ask [the banks] to pay a little bit more and use that money both to balance the books and make sure you don’t have to remove things like the winter fuel payments.”
In positioning the Liberal Democrats as a constructive opposition, Davey hopes to distance his party from what he describes as the Conservative Party’s lack of credibility. Despite Labour’s overwhelming majority, he believes that the Liberal Democrats can be more effective at holding the government to account.
“We have a lot more leverage than the Conservative Party, as they’ve got no credibility. Labour’s not going to listen to the Conservatives,” Davey argues. “By opposing in a constructive way, by putting forward alternatives, by trying to win the arguments, I think we can get much more success than the Conservatives are going to do.”
Davey envisions the Liberal Democrats as a voice of reason in Parliament, focused on finding solutions rather than indulging in the “yah-boo politics” he believes typifies the Conservative approach.
While the Liberal Democrats’ policies and approach to governance are serious matters, Davey admits to enjoying the lighter side of political campaigns. From confetti cannons to amusing props, the party’s by-election victory celebrations have been engaging and memorable.
“We had a lot of those rather amusing and hopefully engaging visuals in the general election,” Davey recalls. “I think you can expect to see a few more, but I’m not allowed to tell you. And by the way, I’m not quite sure if I know all the ones they’ve got lined up for me at Party Conference.”
As the conference unfolds, all eyes will be on the Liberal Democrats to see if their momentum can be maintained and if their bright new chapter in the South West is just the beginning.