Could Lib Dems form pact with Labour to halt Farage?

Gleefully untroubled by those who claim his publicity stunts demean his high office, as if Queen Camilla were proposing to do the splits as post-dinner entertainment at the next state visit, Ed Davey has been out and about again at his party conference in Bournemouth.

- SEAN O'GRADY

For no reason other than to provide journalists with a cringeworthy pun, he went beekeeping, hoping the nation would conclude the Liberal Democrats are creating a real buzz, in a hive of activity. If only...

What is Ed Davey for?

Harsh. First, he's virtually obliged to say stuff the other parties won't or can't. To take a topical example, he's now in a position to congratulate the prime minister for recognising the state of Palestine, for which he has been calling for some time. He can also stick up for human rights, asylum seekers, net zero and the environment (in competition with Greens), the European Union, taxing bad things, and being rude to Elon Musk and Donald Trump. Second, he can promote neglected causes such as the needs of carers, where he can draw on personal experience.

Third, and most crucial, he can help keep Reform UK out of power. At the moment, polls suggest that only the sturdy Liberal Democrat “yellow wall” of parliamentary seats, mostly in the nicer parts of England, can prevent Nigel Farage running amok. Indeed, if the worst comes to the worst and Farage storms in, Davey might have to be leader of the opposition.