Ed Davey: Lib Dems cannot be party for middle-class graduates

The former Coalition minister said: “You bet I want to be in power."
Power bid: Sir Ed Davey faces Layla Moran in the race to become the Lib Dem leader
REUTERS
WEST END FINAL

Get our award-winning daily news email featuring exclusive stories, opinion and expert analysis

I would like to be emailed about offers, event and updates from Evening Standard. Read our privacy notice.

The Liberal Democrats cannot be a party just for the “middle-class graduates” Sir Ed Davey said today as he set out his stall for leadership.

The former Coalition minister is running to lead the party after Jo Swinson lost her seat in the Lib Dems’ disastrous performance at the December 2019 general election.

Voting started today in the race between Sir Ed and Layla Moran, who was elected to Parliament in 2017.

In an interview with the Evening Standard, Sir Ed said his party was facing the greatest challenge he could remember, but outlined his determination to make the Lib Dems a political force again.

He said: “There is a danger that we mustn’t be, or become, a party for the middle-class graduates.

"Psychologically we’ve been doing particularly well in graduates. Whether that’s our message on Brexit, on climate change, I don’t know.”

But he said there was “no quick fix” or group of people they could go after to solve the party’s problems.

A report co-authored by Tim Bale, politics professor at Queen Mary University of London, said the Lib Dems have a new core vote comprised of university graduates. It suggested that the Lib Dems have a new heartland, a “yellow halo” of electoral strength in London and the South-East.

But Sir Ed said the party could win seats across the United Kingdom.

He added: “You bet I want to be in power. I’m not going to sit here and tell you we’re going to win a majority next election.

"But we can be a party of influence, a party of power, working with other progressives. Once we’re in a position of strength — let’s see what happens.”

He said Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer was not as “toxic as Corbyn” and hinted that he was open to working with him. “Maybe Keir Starmer will be thinking, well I’m not going to win by myself, and be looking for parties that have got common ideas…”

Sir Ed Davey, MP for Kingston and Surbiton
John Russell

After an election campaign centred on stopping Brexit, described afterwards by the party as a “car crash”, the Lib Dems ended up with 11 MPs in December, one fewer than in 2017. They also lost all the MPs who defected from other parties who had helped swell their numbers to 21 pre-election.

Sir Ed, who served as energy secretary in the Conservative-Lib Dem coalition, has put care at the heart of his pitch and has opened up about his personal experiences of looking after family members.

The father-of-two described caring for his disabled son John, 12, who has an undiagnosed neurological condition and cannot walk or talk.

Most mornings the MP for Kingston and Surbiton gets John ready for the day, adding: “I go in and say hello to him and just have a cuddle and I chat to him.

“And then we get him up and start massaging him. He can’t get out of bed himself, he can’t go to the toilet himself, dress himself. That’s the level of disability.

“My dad died when I was four and then my mum became terminally ill when I was 12. I nursed her with my brother until she died when I was 15.

“As a young carer and a young person that’s quite challenging period in your life, it has a real impact on you.”

Sir Ed was then looked after by his grandparents and also cared for his grandmother when she grew frail.

Sir Ed Davey with former leader Jo Swinson
Getty Images

He added: “Caring for my mum, caring for my grandparents, my son, has taught me what so many people in our country go through.

“I want the Liberal Democrats to be the voice of carers and I feel I can bring something to that discussion, something to that representation of carers.”

It is the second time he has run for leader after he and Ms Swinson went head-to-head last year when Sir Vince Cable stood down. The new leader is due to be announced on August 27.

Create a FREE account to continue reading

eros

Registration is a free and easy way to support our journalism.

Join our community where you can: comment on stories; sign up to newsletters; enter competitions and access content on our app.

Your email address

Must be at least 6 characters, include an upper and lower case character and a number

You must be at least 18 years old to create an account

* Required fields

Already have an account? SIGN IN

By clicking Create Account you confirm that your data has been entered correctly and you have read and agree to our Terms of use , Cookie policy and Privacy policy .

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged in