THE LIB Dems could join forces with Labour to stop Nigel Farage getting into power, Sir Ed Davey has hinted.
The party leader told the BBC he felt a “moral responsibility” to keep Reform out of Government.
3
3
Pressed on whether that meant a coalition with Sir Keir Starmer he ducked giving a clear yes or no.
Speaking from Lib Dem party conference in Bournemouth, he said: “My moral responsibility as the leader of a party that has particular values is to speak up for those values and champion those values.
“I’ve been deeply disappointed by the Labour Government. I think they’ve failed so many people – pensioners, disabled people, small businesses, large businesses, the farmers.”
Sir Ed insisted: “What I want to do is make sure we have as many Liberal Democrat seats and Liberal Democrat votes at the next election. And by the way, we’re on track because we got our best result for over 100 years.”
But a straw poll of members at conference showed only a fraction backed the idea of a Lib-Lab pact.
Earlier in the month, Reform UK boasted a double-digit poll lead as he headed into his party conference in Birmingham.
Some 32 per cent of voters backed them, ahead of Labour on 22 per cent and the Tories on 18.
The insurgent party’s poll score, which was three points up on July, was its best yet, say research firm J. L. Partners.
It came after Mr Farage dominated the political agenda over the summer break by capitalising on the Government’s woes on migration.
He also announced a raft of law and order policies.
Writing in The Sun, pollster James Johnson said Reform’s hardline stance on small boat crossings is the main reason voters are flocking to its banner.
He said: “With record numbers of Channel crossings, and people feeling the effect of hundreds of thousands of migrants on their own lives and communities, patience has snapped.
“Labour seems unable to fix it.
“And, as far as the average voter is concerned, the Conservatives caused it.”
Mr Johnson, who had argued it could take up to three terms for Mr Farage to become PM, now reckons he may get there in 2029.
3
