Liberal Democrat MPs met this week expecting a potential leadership challenge to Ed Davey, but the gathering produced only minor grumbles and no serious opposition.
01Summary
- 01The meeting in a Commons committee room on Tuesday was described by one attendee as a 'damp squib' that was 'damper than I thought'.
- 02Charlie Maynard, the number two in the party's Treasury team, resigned a week ago over concerns the Lib Dems were failing to cut through with voters.
- 03Davey promised £17bn in income tax cuts and support for the pensions triple lock at September's party conference, policies aimed at the 'blue wall' constituencies.
- 04Some MPs worry Davey is so focused on attracting former Tory voters that a distinctively liberal message has been lost.
- 05Daisy Cooper, deputy leader and Treasury spokesperson, is seen by some as the main alternative if Davey were ousted, but her cautious approach deters support.
02Why it matters
This matters because the Lib Dems' strategy of wooing former Conservative voters and avoiding controversy could shape their electoral fate, but internal tensions over party identity remain unresolved.
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