UK Liberal Democrats see chance to overtake Conservatives as right-wing vote divides

The UK Liberal Democrat leader Ed Davey has said a split between the Conservatives and Reform UK presents a “historic opportunity” for his party at the next general election.

Speaking on the BBC’s Today program Monday, he said the division on the right of UK politics could allow the Liberal Democrats to win seats traditionally held by the Conservatives.

Davey said: “The right is fragmented for the first time in parliamentary history.”

He said the Conservatives and Reform UK were competing for many of the same voters, while both parties had rejected the prospect of an electoral pact.

He also said the Liberal Democrats had a “real chance” of winning more seats than the Conservatives after the next election.

Davey said liberal and pro-European Conservatives were increasingly being attracted to his party because of changes within the Conservative Party under leader Kemi Badenoch.

However, he also stressed his desire to prevent Reform UK leader Nigel Farage from gaining power.

“I think there’s a moral responsibility to stop the far right,” he said. “We have to win to stop Mr Farage and stop Kemi Badenoch giving him the keys [to Downing Street].”