Lib Dem leader Ed Davey vows to keep cheesy stunts as voters push for seriousness

Ed Davey closed the Liberal Democrat conference in Bournemouth with a pledge to keep the party's signature stunts in the public eye. He told supporters he would lead 'my way' and that 'the best is yet to come,' invoking Frank Sinatra in a keynote address that framed the showmanship as part of a broader effort to dramatize the Lib Dems' policies and stances. The Lib Dem leader has repeatedly used attention-grabbing moments to lift the party's profile, arguing they help differentiate the party from the governing party and from its political rivals.

Over the course of the conference, Davey has marched at the head of a brass band, played cricket on Bournemouth beach, and conducted a BBC interview while on a zip wire. The streak of theatrics has become a recognizable feature of his leadership, a contrast to traditional Westminster campaigning that critics say can blur policy substance. The spectacle has drawn longtime attention since last year's general election, when the Lib Dems relied on eye-catching moments to boost visibility amid a crowded field.

Analysts and pollsters have wrestled with how much weight to give to performance versus policy. A More in Common analysis, reported by the Guardian this week, suggested that almost half of Lib Dem members (47 per cent) think the party appears less serious than rivals. In his closing address, Davey sought to recast the image, arguing that the Lib Dems are the serious opposition to Nigel Farage and Reform and that the party's approach is about more than staged moments. He signaled that the party would continue to press a policy agenda designed to present a credible alternative to the current government and to Farage's platform.

In a broad part of the speech, Davey suggested that Farage would ease the UK's gun laws if he wins the next election, invoking past comments from Farage dating back to his leadership of UKIP in 2014 when he called the handgun ban put in after the Dunblane massacre 'ludicrous' and urged reconsideration. Reform has since said it has no plan to change the gun laws, with a party source saying: 'Ed Davey squanders his big moment spouting total madness. The Lib Dems are an irrelevant laughing stock.' The Lib Dem leader used the same section of his remarks to attack Farage and other right-wing figures, including Elon Musk, warning that 'the forces of darkness are working together across the whole world.'

Davey then pitched the Lib Dems as the main opposition to Reform, declaring that 'it comes down to us or Nigel Farage.' While the party remains small compared with Labour and the governing coalition, he emphasized that the Lib Dem platform offers a path for voters seeking a balance between reformist governance and principled opposition. The conference comes as the Lib Dems, now with 72 MPs, look to sharpen their identity and expand their influence in national politics, even as internal debates over tone and strategy continue to resonate with members.

Observers say the event highlights a dual strategy: using memorable stunts to sustain visibility while foregrounding policy critiques of both government and Reform. In an era when political brands often hinge on spectacles as much as manifestos, the Lib Dems are aiming to convert attention into votes by underscoring a distinct stance on public services, national security, and fiscal responsibility.

As the party seeks to translate attention into electoral momentum, the world beyond Westminster remains a reminder of how political rhetoric travels. The Liberal Democrats find themselves navigating a landscape where calls for seriousness sit alongside a persistent appetite for dramatic, media-ready moments. The balance the party strikes between performance and substance will be closely watched as campaigns proceed and voters reassess the workings of the party at the center of British politics.