Can the Lib Dems continue on their successful streak?

True to recent election stunt form, Ed Davey turned up to the Liberal Democrat conference on a jetski, presumably because Elon Musk couldn’t lend him a rocket for the occasion.

- SEAN O'GRADY

Energetic and attention-grabbing as the leader’s speedy entrance was, the last few days of earnest debate haven’t seen the party raise its profile very much. Indeed, even with its stunning tactical success in the general election, which yielded 72 parliamentary seats – a gain of 61 on the 2019 result – the party hasn’t made much progress since. Some wonder where the Liberal Democrats go from here...

What are the Lib Dems for?

They always used to say that if they didn’t exist, someone would have to invent them, because for a long period they were the only party consistently advocating membership of the European Union (and its forerunners), civil liberties, electoral reform and the environment. They also happened to be the natural, default home for a protest vote, especially during unpopular Tory governments. But nowadays, the party has some formidable competition in all of these areas.

The 2010-15 coalition government, dominated by the Conservatives, wreaked enormous electoral damage, from which it has only just begun to make a significant recovery – the words “tuition fees” will still produce a wince in Liberal Democrat circles. The Greens have obviously monopolised the environmental agenda, while Reform UK and a new wave of proPalestine/leftist independents have mopped up a portion of the protest vote. All of the smaller parties want electoral reform.