Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey has sharply criticised the Conservative Party and Reform UK, accusing them of seeking to transform Britain into a “Trump satellite state.” Speaking at the Liberal Democrats’ annual autumn conference in Brighton, Davey framed an alliance between Reform UK leader Nigel Farage and Conservative Minister Kemi Badenoch as a joint effort to undermine key British institutions and values.

Davey warned that this partnership would damage the National Health Service, sow division within communities, cause environmental harm, and erode what he described as Britain’s traditional values of fairness, tolerance, and decency. He firmly rejected the prospect of either Farage or Badenoch achieving power, pledging that the Liberal Democrats’ so-called “orange wall” would block their political advance.

“The only path to power for these two is through each other,” Davey said, referring to what he called an “unholy alliance” between the far-right Reform UK and the Conservative Party. He accused the two parties of offering “anger, division, and another con to line their own pockets,” asserting that his party had a positive agenda to stimulate the economy, increase people’s disposable income, and uphold British values.

Addressing party members as the first day of the conference closed, Davey emphasised the Liberal Democrats’ commitment to human dignity and social justice. “When we see injustice, when we see human dignity under attack, we do not look away. We stand up. We care. And we fight,” he said, casting the political battle as a fight against what he described as growing hatred and misinformation.

Davey portrayed Reform UK not as a mainstream contender but as relying on voter fatigue and apathy to propel Farage to power. “What Farage is counting on to get him into Number 10 is that we don’t care enough to see this fight through,” he said.

Recent polling by YouGov, cited during the conference, indicated that support for the Liberal Democrats has remained steady over the past year. The party is generally viewed as moderate and tolerant but also as lacking clarity on its distinct political identity. Polls showed Sir Ed Davey’s personal recognition among the public remains limited, with 42 percent of respondents answering “don’t know” or “who?” when asked to describe him.

The Lib Dem conference in Brighton is set to continue through the weekend, with the party outlining a broader vision aimed at addressing what Davey called the country’s “broken politics” and economic challenges.