‘Flip the table and rise up’: Lib Dems’ president in combative mood as party gathers in Brighton

By the Editorial Team · Monday, September 21, 2026

Liberal Democrats president Josh Babarinde delivered a forceful call for systemic change, targeting powerful technology firms and crypto billionaires as obstacles to social progress during the party’s conference in Brighton. His rhetoric signals a shift toward a more assertive strategy aimed at expanding the party’s appeal beyond its traditional base through stronger digital campaigning and grassroots engagement.

At the Liberal Democrats’ annual conference in Brighton this weekend, party president Josh Babarinde adopted a notably combative tone as he called for significant change within British society. Speaking outside Toynbee Hall in London’s East End, Babarinde emphasized the need to challenge entrenched powers that, he argued, hinder people’s ability to prosper.

“We’re facing big modern giants obstructing the conditions for people to thrive,” said Babarinde, the Eastbourne MP and a prominent figure within the party’s ranks. “It is the job of Liberal Democrats to address that. How? By flipping the table over and rising up.” This metaphorical call to action signals a more assertive approach than is customary for the party, which currently counts about 5,000 members attending the conference.

Babarinde invoked the legacy of William Beveridge, the early 20th-century Liberal thinker who formulated the foundations of the welfare state while working in the very building where Babarinde spoke. Beveridge famously identified social challenges as the “five evils”: want, disease, ignorance, squalor, and idleness. Today, Babarinde targets what he calls the “giants” of big technology companies and crypto billionaires, arguing that power and wealth need to be redistributed to the wider population.

Despite the party’s attempts to present itself as a force for change, the Liberal Democrats remain challenged in gaining broad voter support. Following the 2024 general election, the party secured 71 parliamentary seats, but polling has hovered around 11% in recent months. In local elections held this May, the party gained 153 councillors in England and added six seats in the Scottish Parliament; however, these advances were less marked than those achieved by the Green Party and Reform UK. Meanwhile, leader Ed Davey faces ongoing difficulties in commanding media attention, with party members lamenting the disproportionate coverage given to figures like Nigel Farage.

Babarinde acknowledged the crowded nature of the current party system, criticizing political opponents for media stunts lacking concrete plans. “As Liberal Democrats, we’re not going to fall into that trap,” he said. “But we must be clear about the diagnosis of the problem, who is standing in the way, and what needs to be done.” He defended the party’s policy platform against accusations of being uninspiring, asserting there is “oodles” of substantive policy. However, he underlined the need to expand the party’s reach beyond its traditional middle England base by strengthening digital campaigning to match its effective ground operations.

Drawing on his personal background, Babarinde has spoken openly about how his mother’s experience with domestic abuse influenced his political outlook. His professional experience includes founding a social enterprise repairing smartphones, which employed former offenders and at-risk youth, an initiative that earned him an OBE.

As he toured East London’s Spitalfields market near Toynbee Hall, Babarinde pointed to a community display marked with the phrase “Cracked It,” a gesture that underlined his commitment to tangible solutions and grassroots engagement.

This article was reported by synthesizing coverage from multiple independent news outlets to present a balanced, unbiased account. Read about our editorial standards. Spotted an error? Let us know.