Liberal Democrats push to woo moderate Tories as party positions itself against Reform

LONDON — The Liberal Democrats stepped up efforts to court disaffected moderate Conservatives on Tuesday, with leader Ed Davey poised to frame the party as the principal opposition to Nigel Farage’s Reform UK ahead of the next general election. Davey is expected to use his keynote address at the party’s conference closing to appeal to Conservatives unhappy with the governing party’s rightward shift under Kemi Badenoch. In a political climate where polls show the Tories hovering near their worst-ever vote share, the Lib Dems aim to entice MPs and peers who want a different approach on the economy, crime and security.

In remarks prepared for his closing speech, Davey is cited by The Times as telling what it calls “millions of One Nation conservatives who reject the divisive politics of Badenoch and Farage” to “come and talk to us. About our ideas to grow the economy. Cut crime. Defend our nation. Come and join us. To oppose this failing Labour government and offer our great country real change. Come, Conservative friends. Help us save our country. Come and win with us.” The party hopes that signaling openness to Conservative defectors could broaden its appeal beyond traditional Liberal Democrat voters.

The backdrop to the outreach remains a Conservative leadership project that has kept Badenoch on the right flank, a posture many critics say has limited the party’s appeal to a broader electorate. Tory defections have intensified political debate about the party’s trajectory, especially after last week when Tory shadow minister Danny Kruger became the first sitting MP to switch allegiance to Reform, declaring that “the party is over.” The Times report cited that Kruger would address conservative voters who oppose the current direction and urge them to consider alternatives, including the Lib Dem vision for economic growth, law and order, and national defense.

Polls in recent days have reinforced the Lib Dems’ sense of opportunity. The Tories have been reported to be just two points ahead of the Lib Dems in one survey, a metric that underscores the Lib Dems’ argument that reformist pressures from Reform could siphon support from the governing party. Political analysts caution that parties can shift quickly in polling, but the current snapshot provides the Lib Dems with a talking point about a broader anti-establishment mood and dissatisfaction with the status quo. Professor Sir John Curtice, a polling expert, told The Times that the party had effectively maxed out the strategy of targeting Tory supporters and should instead pivot toward disenchanted Labour voters who might be open to a cross‑party centre option rather than a straight swing to Reform.

Privately, Lib Dem strategists remain confident about their positioning ahead of the next general election. They point to their 2024 campaign blueprint, which blended a robust ground game with targeted tactical voting, as a model for becoming a home for voters across the left and right who oppose Reform’s rise. “There is a significant chunk of the British population that does not want Reform in government,” one senior Lib Dem strategist said. “We can offer people change without going to the Reform extreme.” The party’s leadership has signaled it will pursue a multi-faceted approach to broaden appeal while maintaining a focus on governing competence and pragmatic policy.

Beyond domestic politics, Davey is expected to highlight a policy agenda aimed at turning the United Kingdom into a destination for scientific research and innovation. He is set to advocate for welcoming U.S. cancer researchers who he says have faced an anti-science climate in America by offering them a dedicated fellowship scheme to work in the UK. The Lib Dem plan envisions the establishment of a national cancer research centre and the passage of a Cancer Survival Research Act to advance evidence-based treatment, funding and collaboration across the NHS and research institutions. Davey is expected to describe the Atlantic policy landscape as a “biggest threat to the fight against cancer” and to call on the UK to lead by example in supporting lifesaving research.

The proposal comes as Reform’s conference earlier this month drew attention for its hardline rhetoric on science funding, with attendees reportedly applauding moves that would limit or end certain medical research programs. Davey’s team says the UK should “step up and say: if Trump won’t back this research, we will,” signaling a willingness to frame the issue as a broader NHS innovation priority rather than a partisan dispute.

If implemented, the Lib Dems would seek to link cancer research with a broader national strategy—reorganizing funding pathways, expanding cross-border collaboration, and establishing a framework to ensure researchers have a clear, efficient path to visa and work authorization. The plan would also place cancer research and survival outcomes at the heart of NHS priorities, positioning the Lib Dems as the party proposing long-term, evidence-based reforms rather than short-term political fixes. Whether such a stance can translate into tangible electoral momentum remains to be seen, but party insiders said the timing aligns with broader public interest in scientific advancement, healthcare resilience and a credible alternative to Reform’s rhetoric.

As the conference winds down, the Lib Dems face a political environment in which disaffection with the two-party system persists. The party’s calculated outreach to moderate Conservative voters reflects a continued strategic emphasis on broadening its coalition base while maintaining its core commitments to civil liberties, public services and a pragmatic market economy. Whether this approach gains traction with voters who feel alienated by both major parties will depend on how convincingly the Lib Dem message can translate into policy outcomes and credible governance promises ahead of the next general election.