A very Lib Dem coup

Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey is facing a potential internal coup as party members express dissatisfaction with his leadership and public communication. A showdown meeting has been scheduled to address grievances, with some MPs reportedly organizing to force a vote of no confidence.
Why it matters
Internal instability within a major opposition party can significantly impact national political discourse and the effectiveness of parliamentary oversight.
Coffee House Steerpike A very Lib Dem coup 13 October 2026, 1:29pm Credit: Getty Text settings Text size Small Medium Large Line Spacing Compact Normal Spacious Comments Share Share Steerpike
Copied Linkedin Messenger Email Desperate Sir Ed Davey will plead with his party not to launch a coup against him at a showdown meeting in Westminster this evening. A whopping four hours have been carved out for MPs to air their grievances over the party’s failure to cut through with the public – and for Davey to convince his fellow wets why they should stick by him and his juvenile stunts. So far, more than 40 MPs have requested to speak, with Roz Savage, who oversees the parliamentary party, set to chair the gathering. Ahead of the showdown, Davey told MPs:
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