Davey vows to keep cheesy stunts as Lib Dem leader despite calls for seriousness

Liberal Democrat leader Ed Davey signaled he will continue to lean into his famed stunts to grab attention, even as polling and some voters push for a more traditionally serious opposition. In a keynote address closing the party conference, he quoted Frank Sinatra and declared that he would lead the Liberal Democrats “my way,” adding: “So get the bungee harness ready.” The moment underscored a central tension within the party: how to balance high-visibility stunts with the perception that the Lib Dems should project greater gravitas as an opposition to the right.

The conference unfolded with a string of theatrics that have become a signature of Davey’s leadership. He led a march at the head of a brass band, took part in cricket on Bournemouth beach, and even conducted a BBC interview while on a zip wire. The series of stunts has helped the party attract media attention and donors but has also drawn questions about seriousness from some observers, including pollsters who have tracked Lib Dem attitudes.

In his speech, Davey framed Nigel Farage and Reform as the kinds of forces that could threaten public safety and the country’s political cohesion if they assume national leadership. He argued that placing Farage in No. 10 would come with drastic policy shifts, including changes to gun laws. The speech, which repeatedly invoked Farage—more than 30 mentions—included a stark line about the potential consequences of such a shift: he warned that “putting him in charge would mean schools would have to ‘teach our children what to do in case of a mass shooting.’” The reference drew a response from Reform, which said the Lib Dems were blurring reality, and that the party had no plan to roll back gun-control measures.

The campaign-like tone of the speech was balanced by a direct reference to recent polling and internal party feedback. More in Common, a survey cited by the Guardian this week, found that 47 percent of Lib Dem members believe the party appears less serious than it should. Davey acknowledged the critique but argued that the party’s seriousness should be seen in policy, not just stunts, and he sought to position the Lib Dems as the main opposition to Reform rather than as a fringe voice.

The remarks about Farage build on past comments he has drawn from Farage’s own history. In 2014 Farage described a handgun ban introduced after the Dunblane massacre as “ludicrous” and argued that gun restrictions should be eased. Davey’s team insisted Reform has no plan to change Britain’s gun laws, though a source dismissed the conference remarks as “madness” and argued the Lib Dems were out of touch. The clash highlighted a broader strategic debate within the party about how to present itself as a credible alternative to the government while also retaining the flair that has helped Davey’s leadership maintain visibility.

Beyond the gun-law rhetoric, Davey’s keynote painted a broad contrast with Reform on a range of issues, including the NHS and energy policy. He argued that the “forces of darkness” were gathering across the world and urged the Lib Dems to be a steady, principled counterweight to what he called right-of-center populism. The party framed itself as the credible, responsible option in British politics at a moment of global political realignment, while still embracing the attention-driven tactics that have characterized its recent public presence.

Tactically, the Lib Dems’ conference message has been careful not to retreat from its reformist priorities, while acknowledging the risk that stunts could undercut credibility. The party’s leadership sought to reconcile entertainment with policy seriousness, emphasizing classroom safety, public health, climate action, and pragmatic governance. As the campaign cycle moves toward the next general election, party officials will be watching closely how voters respond to the balance between spectacle and substance, and whether Davey’s strategy sustains momentum or prompts a broader reassessment of the party’s public-facing style.