Sir Ed Davey is facing criticism over whether he can keep the Liberal Democrats politically relevant, despite the party winning a record number of MPs at the 2024 general election. Polling suggests the party has struggled to build momentum since then, with concerns about its public profile, clarity and ability to connect with voters.

YouGov found that just over half of respondents viewed the Lib Dems as “weak”, while 43 per cent said it was unclear what the party stood for. A Devon council leader said the party was “sleepwalking into irrelevance”, but several conference members defended Mr Davey, praising its policies and arguing that its achievements were not receiving enough media attention. Mr Davey insists he remains a candidate for prime minister and wants to build support constituency by constituency.