Ed Davey signals Lib Dems may work with Labour to block Tory-Reform coalition
Sir Ed Davey has suggested the Liberal Democrats could be willing to work with Labour to prevent a Conservative-Reform coalition after the next election. He called such a coalition “hugely damaging” and said being in government would let the Lib Dems shape the country, while cautioning against reading too much into his remarks.
His comments came after he survived reported internal pressure over his leadership, with no confidence vote held at a meeting of the party’s MPs. The Lib Dems won 72 seats in 2024, up from 11 in 2019, but a recent YouGov poll put them at 11 per cent, around their 2024 share. The article says the Conservatives, led by Kemi Badenoch, are preparing tax-cut offers to contest Lib Dem-held seats in affluent southern areas.
- Davey says the Lib Dems want a role in government.
- He warns a Conservative-Reform coalition would be damaging.
- The party is polling at 11 per cent after its 2024 gains.
Both sides, in good faith
The strongest fair case each way — we don't pick a winner.
The case for
A Lib Dem–Labour arrangement could prevent a Conservative–Reform government if voters reject that prospect but neither party wins enough seats alone. Supporters could argue that cooperation gives the Lib Dems influence over policy and protects their voters’ priorities, while Davey’s warning reflects concern about the effects of a Conservative–Reform coalition.
The case against
Voters may want a clear choice between parties and policies, rather than an arrangement whose terms are settled after the election. Critics could argue that working with Labour risks compromising Lib Dem commitments or overriding the outcome voters intended, and that Davey’s cautious remarks do not amount to a firm mandate for such cooperation.
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Originally published by Daily Mail as “Ed Davey suggests the Lib Dems are ready to do a deal with Labour to keep ‘hugely damaging’ Tory-Reform coalition of the Right out of power”.