Sir Ed Davey, leader of the Liberal Democrats, delivered a speech at the party conference that sought to attract voters from across the political spectrum. His address included a £17bn tax giveaway, which he aimed at disillusioned Conservative voters.
At the same time, Sir Ed presented Reform UK's politics as an existential threat to Britain, appealing to left-leaning tactical voters. He also told moderate Tories that a vote for the Liberal Democrats could block both Reform and a Conservative-supported Nigel Farage premiership.
The Liberal Democrats won 60 of their 72 seats from the Conservatives in 2024 and were second in a number of Conservative-held seats. Sir Ed claims his party could have more MPs than the Conservatives after the next election.
The proposed tax cuts include raising the personal allowance to £15,000 and increasing the higher-rate threshold to £56,000. Political scientist Paula Surridge has written that continued Liberal Democrat success depends on them being seen as a safe alternative for liberal-left voters.