Lib Dems will be a firewall against Nigel Farage, Davey says

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 combative stance as he faced down some criticism from MPs, including one who said publicly that they felt the party was struggling for relevance.

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.