UK Lib Dem leader warns of ‘Trump satellite state’

Sir Ed Davey, the Liberal Democrat leader, has said an “unholy alliance” between Nigel Farage and Kemi Badenoch would turn Britain into a “Trump satellite state”, opening his party's autumn conference in Brighton.

“While families are struggling to afford the basics and small businesses are being crippled by this government, the Conservatives and Reform can only offer anger, division, and another con to line their own pockets,” Davey said.

Davey said the alliance between the Reform UK leader and the Conservative leader was “the only way either can get into power”.

Together, they would “trash our NHS, turn our communities against each other, cause untold damage to our environment, and trample over traditional British values of fairness, tolerance, and decency”, Davey said.

Four sitting and 21 former Conservative MPs, including six former cabinet ministers, have defected to Farage's party since the general election, the Liberal Democrats said, adding that Conservative candidates must now sign up to Reform's agenda to be selected.

“A bigger Orange Wall is the only thing that can stand between Britain and this dangerous experiment, and we will not let them pass,” Davey said.

Davey said the Liberal Democrats were “the only party with a plan to take the brakes off the British economy, get money back into people's pockets, and defend the traditional values that make our country great”.