All articles tagged with #ed davey
With poll numbers flat since their 2024 gains, the Liberal Democrats are planning a gear-shift at their conference: a bolder, more radical message and stronger social-media outreach to energize supporters, while internal frustrations over leadership and strategy fuel whispers of possible changes ahead.
Viktor Orban conceded defeat after 16 years in power as Hungary’s opposition led by Peter Magyar won, marking a major political shift. Labour leader Keir Starmer and Liberal Democrat Ed Davey congratulated the result, calling it a historic moment for European democracy and evidence that populist extremism can be overcome, even as Orbán’s alliances with Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin were noted in the coverage.
Liberal Democrat leader Ed Davey urged Britain to develop a fully independent nuclear deterrent to stop relying on US-supplied Trident missiles, proposing a two-stage plan to domestically maintain existing systems and eventually manufacture a British-made replacement, with costs borne in the UK; the party’s stance contrasts with the government’s defence position that the UK’s deterrent supports NATO, and estimates for the plan’s price are not provided.
The Liberal Democrats propose issuing publicly available “war bonds” to raise up to £20bn for defence, letting citizens lend to the government for 2–3 years at standard gilt-rate interest, with the proceeds ring-fenced for defence and paired with reforms to the MoD’s procurement process amid calls for increased NATO-aligned spending.
The Liberal Democrats have pledged to recruit 8,000 more GPs if elected, aiming to ensure patients can see a doctor within seven days. The plan, costing £4bn over five years, is central to their general election campaign and includes measures to boost recruitment and retain experienced GPs. Party leader Sir Ed Davey criticized Conservative management of the NHS and emphasized the need for political transformation to address health and care issues.