Lib Dem leader: Invest in NHS or accept decline
The Lib Dems were in a sunny mood befitting of the weather in Brighton, as they celebrated winning 72 seats – their most-ever MPs – in July’s general election.
Sir Ed – who carried out a series of daring stunts during the election campaign – opened the conference in eye-catching fashion, by riding a jet ski through Brighton Marina.
Now the third-largest party in the House of Commons, the Lib Dems are positioning themselves as a “constructive opposition”.
But this conference is also about carving out dividing lines with Labour, which won a huge majority in the general election.
At a fringe event, the new MP for Cheadle, Tom Morrison, said “empowering communities” and pushing for reform of social care were ways the party could distinguish itself from Labour.
Another newly elected Lib Dem MP, Paul Kohler, said his party needed to “challenge the authoritarian side of Labour” and propose progressive solutions to problems, such as the overcrowding crisis in prisons.
But they all agreed the Conservatives were still their main opponents in most election battlegrounds.