Some people want the Liberal Democrats to go back to their free-market roots in order to win over moderate Tories. As Kemi Badenoch and Robert Jenrick become possible candidates for the leadership of the Conservative Party, people inside the party are telling the leader, Sir Ed Davey, to take advantage of the current political climate.
The Lib Dems are now the third-largest party in Parliament, having made big gains in areas that used to be strong for the Conservatives. As the party meets for its yearly conference in Brighton, the main goal is to keep the momentum going in the election by coming together around key economic ideas like lower taxes and less government involvement.
Some important people in the party say that supporting economic liberalism while opposing Labour’s policies will help them become a more real option to both of the major parties. The leader of Liberal Reform, Callum Robertson, stressed that the party’s future lies in a liberal economic policy with a socially progressive plan. He thinks this method will work with voters, especially in the Home Counties, and with moderate Tory backers who are unhappy with their party.
The Lib Dems want to be seen as a responsible and helpful opposition by closely examining Labour’s economic policies. As the third-largest party, they now have more power and want to change important policies like healthcare and social care. They also plan to keep going after weak Conservative seats in future elections.
The Lib Dems want to beat Labour and pass the Tories by 2029, so the path they take now will determine how well they do in the future.