Sir Ed Davey, the leader of the UK’s Liberal Democrats, has called on the Labour government to be more positive, promising that his party will provide a more optimistic and constructive alternative. Davey spoke at the party’s annual conference in Brighton today, praising his MPs and their “sacrifices”, as well as calling for bolder action from Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer. Specifically, Davey argued that the NHS needed a taskforce and a £1.5 billion fund to help prepare it for the winter. During his forty-minute speech, Davey also highlighted health and social care as key areas for reform.
The party conference was reportedly marked by a party atmosphere, with many of the MPs joining their leader in singing along to Abba’s Take A Chance On Me. However, Davey’s speech was firmly grounded in key policy concerns, particularly the need for greater investment in the NHS. Davey argued that a government task force could help NHS trusts plan their budgets more efficiently, thereby avoiding the need for last-minute emergency funding. He added that the government should be more positive in its approach to the NHS, and “save our NHS now”.
Throughout his speech, Davey made clear that the Liberal Democrats were keen to position themselves as a “constructive opposition” to the Labour government, and promised to scrutinise Labour’s plans carefully. At the same time, he sought to distance himself from Labour’s message of impending doom and gloom, stressing his party’s ambition for the country.
In closing, Davey argued that the Liberal Democrats had a chance to “consign the Conservative Party to the history books”, particularly in the county council elections next May. He also spoke more personally, sharing his own experiences of caring for his mother when she had cancer and his son, who has a neurological condition and learning difficulties. Throughout, Davey made clear that the NHS and social care were key priorities for his party, and urged the prime minister to work with him to bring about necessary reforms
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