Davey says Lib Dems are 'firewall against Farage' as conference begins

Figure caption, Ed Davey says the Lib Dems have "a historic opportunity to win many more seats and a moral responsibility to stop Reform"

Sir Ed Davey said the Liberal Democrats are "a firewall against Nigel Farage and Reform" as the party's conference began in Brighton.

The Lib Dem leader sought to strike a more combative stance as he faced down criticism from his own MPs that the party was struggling for relevance and being too polite about problems.

On the first day of the autumn conference, Sir Ed warned an "unholy alliance" between Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch and Farage could turn the UK into a "Trump satellite state".

Addressing speculation about a possible snap election, he said the party was ready to fight and would build its so-called orange wall even higher by winning more than its 2024 record of 72 MPs.