Sir Ed Davey, leader of the Liberal Democrats, has announced his new frontbench team with a focus on the NHS, social care and the cost-of-living crisis. This follows the party’s growth to a record 72 MPs in July’s general election, making them the third largest party in the House of Commons. New members have been appointed to frontbench roles, including Lisa Smart as the party’s home affairs spokesperson, Calum Miller as spokesperson for foreign affairs, and Helen Morgan as the leader on health and social care.
Daisy Cooper remains the party’s deputy leader but will also take on the key role of Treasury spokesperson, with a focus on the cost-of-living crisis. The new line-up leaves a Lib Dem backbench comprising 39 MPs, more than twice the size of the party’s representation in Parliament prior to the general election. Former members of the Lib Dem frontbench, Layla Moran, Alistair Carmichael and Jamie Stone, will now chair parliamentary select committees, freeing up vacancies for new MPs.
Sir Ed said his new frontbench would “champion the people’s priorities, ensuring we hold the new government to account as a responsible opposition.” He added: “We will stand up for our communities every day on the issues that matter most, fixing health and care services, tackling the cost of living crisis and protecting our precious environment.” At the Lib Dem annual conference, Sir Ed said his party would offer a positive alternative to Labour’s “doom and gloom,” urging the government to invest more in the NHS.
The party hopes that having Lib Dem MPs chairing select committees will give them greater influence. These committees are cross-party groups that scrutinise the work of government departments, ranging from health and social care to foreign affairs. Sir Ed was humbled by the result of the general election and the millions of voters who put their trust in the Liberal Democrats, including many for the first time
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