Lib Dems Prepare Manifesto for Possible Snap Election, Davey Cites ‘Moral Responsibility’ to Block Reform

The Liberal Democrats have begun preparatory work on a new manifesto in anticipation of a possible snap general election, party leader Ed Davey has said, according to the Guardian.

Davey said the party has a “moral responsibility” to block the advance of Reform UK, framing this as a central rationale for the Liberal Democrats’ electoral strategy going forward, the Guardian reported.

The comments come as the party gears up for its annual conference, with Davey striking a bullish tone despite polling numbers that have remained largely static in recent months, according to the report.

Davey acknowledged that some of his MPs have expressed frustration, fearing that the party’s core message risks being lost amid the current political landscape, the Guardian said. However, he urged colleagues not to panic over the polling figures.

He argued that tactical voting patterns and increasingly fragmented party loyalties among the electorate mean he expects the Liberal Democrats to perform even better at the next election than they did in 2024, according to the report.

In the 2024 general election, the Liberal Democrats won 72 seats, their highest total in a century, the Guardian noted.

The party's move to begin manifesto preparations reflects broader speculation about the possibility of an early election being called, though no specific timeline has been confirmed, according to the report.