The Populist Gauntlet: Ed Davey's Challenge to Reform and Beyond The Liberal Democrats' annual conference is never a place for subtlety, but this year's opening salvo from leader Sir Ed Davey was a call to arms that left little room for misinterpretation.
As he took the stage at Brighton Centre, Davey laid down a gauntlet, challenging Nigel Farage and Elon Musk's Reform UK to a battle of ideas – one that would go far beyond British politics.
Davey's words were infused with a sense of urgency, echoing his formative experiences as a student activist.