The Guardian argues Liberal Democrat critics should not try to oust Sir Ed Davey, saying his seat-winning strategy is more useful than headline-chasing. It warns that weakening him could help Conservatives and Reform UK.
01Summary
- 01A meeting of Lib Dem MPs on Tuesday night could gather the 18 signatures needed for a confidence vote in Sir Ed Davey.
- 02The paper says Davey is the most successful Liberal parliamentary leader in a century.
- 03It says his £17bn tax giveaway is aimed at disillusioned Tory voters in the Conservatives’ “yellow wall”.
- 04The Lib Dems won 3.7 million votes and 11 seats in 2019, compared with 3.5 million votes and 72 seats in 2024.
- 05The editorial says the Conservatives and Reform UK could form a “marriage of convenience” after the next election.
02Why it matters
The row matters because it could weaken a party leader the paper says is effective at winning seats and stopping the right from taking power. It also affects whether Liberal Democrat strategy is set by local seat gains or by broader national visibility.
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