Lib Dems fix communities, says Davey at election campaign launch

Sir Ed Davey says the Liberal Democrats would fix communities, not "divide" them, as he launched the party's campaign for England's local elections.

Alongside activists in Surrey, the Lib Dem leader sought to highlight the party's policies on cutting energy bills and NHS waiting times ahead of the polls on 7 May.

Pointing to recent Conservative defections to Reform and a potential change of Labour leadership, he claimed the Lib Dems were currently "the most united party in Parliament".

Sir Ed also accused Nigel Farage's Reform UK of wanting to import Trump-style US politics, and flagged the Green Party policy of pulling out Nato as "dangerous".

Rolling up his sleeves to make cakes in a tent, Sir Ed suggested politicians like Farage would rather "point the finger of blame than get their hands dirty" with issues that matter to people in their communities.

Rather than "sneer", Sir Ed said: "We do potholes and police officers, doctors' appointments and cleaning up dirty rivers.

"We do the hard work that actually makes people's lives better."

He said this included his party's policies of banning water companies from dumping raw sewage into rivers and over beaches, as well as cutting VAT for High Street pubs and cafes.

Services including the NHS and policing also need repair, Sir Ed said, pledging to end 12-hour A&E waits, guarantee a GP appointment within seven days, and "restore" local policing.

Speaking from underneath a marquee decked out in union jack bunting, Sir Ed blamed politicians including Farage and Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch for "cheering on" US President Donald Trump's strikes on Iran.

Middle earners 'struggling'

He suggested the government should step in and help people with bills, telling the BBC that Chancellor Rachel Reeves should be "really generous" once Ofgem's energy price cap is updated after July.

"There was last time, I think there should be this time," he said, referring to Liz Truss's universal energy bill freeze following the war in Ukraine.

"Yes there needs to be some targeting of extra support to people, but there are lots of people on low and middle incomes who just can't afford a rise of energy bills of say £500, when they're already struggling with rising petrol costs.

"I think they're really angry with Kemi Badenoch and the Conservatives and Nigel Farage and Reform for championing and cheerleading Trump's illegal war, which has resulted in these rises in fuel prices and energy bills."

Asked why he was targeting Trump during a campaign for local elections, he responded: "His policies are affecting everyone on the doorstep, and when you knock on doors, people are really worried about the cost of living."

Liberal Democrats had "stood up" against Trump "when he put tariffs on us, when he undermined the defence of our country", Sir Ed added.

He predicted success for the party against the Tories in areas including Surrey, Sussex, Hampshire and Hertfordshire, and against Labour in parts of London in Birmingham, in Newcastle and other big cities.

Around 5,000 seats across 136 local councils will be up for grabs at the elections in England. Voters in Scotland and Wales will also elect representatives to their national parliaments on the same day.