Liberal Democrat leader, Sir Ed Davey: 'Reform UK don't speak for young people'

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Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey has hit out at Reform UK, saying Nigel Farage's party doesn't speak for young people.

He also claimed the Liberal Democrats have the momentum in UK politics, not Reform, despite Farage's party currently leading several polls.

The Lib Dem leader hit out at Reform and its leader while speaking to ITV News, claiming they "want to divide people" with their "extreme right wing policies".

Davey's comments come after senior Conservative MP Robert Jenrick suggested he wanted to form an electoral pact with Farage's party in order to beat Labour at the next general election.

Asked if he'd consider a coalition with Keir Starmer to keep Farage out of power, Sir Ed said: "I'm considering making sure we win more Liberal Democrats [seats]... We want to remove the Conservatives."

He believes the Lib Dems have the momentum, adding: "The Conservatives and Reform clearly share a bit in common, the Conservatives seem to be wanting to cuddle up to Reform.

"I’m afraid we reject their extreme right wing policies, they want to divide people. I don't think they speak for young people. They don’t speak for anyone, frankly."

The ITV Youth Tracker, a periodic survey of young adults, recently found that Labour actually has the most support among 18 to 25-year-olds.

Around 43% of those surveyed said they'd vote Labour, while the Greens were second with 16%.

Reform UK were supported by 13%, while the Conservatives and the Liberal Democrats were equal on 12%.

Despite claiming electoral momentum - and having 72 MPs compared to Reform's four - the Liberal Democrat leader does not appear as ambitious as Farage, who thinks he can be the next prime minister.

Asked if he thinks the same for himself, Sir Ed said: "Well, unlike Nigel Farage, who wants to claim the earth, I'm going to focus on what's in front of me - and I want to focus on the concerns of ordinary people."

He added: "We're not going to engage in the divisive politics of Nigel Farage, who claims a lot but delivers nothing."

The Kingston and Surbiton MP promoted a number of his party's flagship policies, such as improving the UK's water quality, overhauling the care sector, and tackling the cost of living.

That included a new policy announced on Thursday: a plan to ban people from playing loud music on public transport.

His party is looking to amend the Bus Services Bill currently making its way through the House of Lords to outlaw playing music and videos out loud from a phone on public transport in England.

They propose the change could be brought in using railway byelaws, which already prohibit behaviours such as dropping litter, spitting and offensive language.

The Lib Dems say that local authorities could impose the same rules banning music on buses by strengthening existing antisocial behaviour laws.

Under their plans, people who breach a ban would face a fine of up to £1,000.

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Sir Ed denied the policy would be a waste of police time, suggesting simply announcing the law would discourage people from breaking it, despite accepting there are already laws on the subject.

"There are some byelaws on trains already to tackle this," he said. "They should be wider, and more universal - for buses as well - and more strictly enforced."

He added: "Some people probably aren't aware that they shouldn't be doing this. And that also that it is illegal, and unaware that they could be fined.

"And I think it would also enable ticket inspectors and others to feel more emboldened to step in."

A Home Office source said officials have been tasked to work “at pace” to determine how fines can best be used to tackle antisocial behaviour.

They said: “Under the Tories, on-the-spot fines for antisocial behaviour fell into practical disuse from the record levels set under the last Labour government.

“There is now work to be done to understand how and where these kind of fines can be most useful and the home secretary has instructed her officials to carry out this analysis at pace, so that we can give the police the fullest range of powers possible to take effective action against anti-social behaviour, whatever form it takes and wherever it occurs.”

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