There was one name on everyone’s lips as the Lib Dem faithful gathered in Bournemouth, with leaders lining up to launch scathing attacks on Nigel Farage
Nigel Farage is the Lord Voldermort of UK politics.
Even when he’s hundreds of miles away, he casts a long shadow wherever his opponents meet, much like the notorious Harry Potter villain.
Nowhere was that clearer than the Lib Dem conference, where the party faithful was ominously warned that the “forces of darkness” are lining up behind him. But unlike the evil wizard, no one held back in naming him – over and over and over again.
The moment journalists checked in, they were handed a welcome pack including a Lego ‘plastic patriot’ toy modelled on Farage. The usually-affable jaunt to the south coast had an edge to it this time as the possibility of a Reform-led government becomes more feasible.
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MPs and activists took to the podiums and chatted excitedly in the cafes about him, moaning the Tories and Labour were being too meek. No such accusation could be made against Sir Ed Davey, who went studs-up in a scathing keynote speech.
In an extraordinary – and misjudged – attack, he suggested that under Farage gun laws would be relaxed and kids would have to prepare for active shooters.
While he’s right that Farage has criticised gun laws brought in after the Dunblane massacre, he’s not spoken about it for more than a decade. It seemed an odd inclusion given all the things to criticise him for.
A Reform source hit back, accusing him of “spouting total madness”.
It’s a shame, because the inevitable row will detract from some of the serious things that have been said about Reform. Sir Ed told delegates: “So much that is broken in our country today is broken thanks to Nigel Farage. And now he wants to break it even more. Unless we stop him.
“This will not be easy. The forces of darkness are working together – across the whole world.” These forces include Donald Trump, Vladimir Putin and Elon Musk – who he’s been beefing with for weeks – we were repeatedly told.
The party’s foreign affairs chief, Calum Miller, was also not holding back either, saying: “We must Trump-proof our politics, especially in light of people like Farage, who is already measuring the curtains of No10, who care more about what that office could do for them than what they can do for this country.”
This was a theme that ran through the conference. At one fringe event a party member suggested small boats should be rechristened “Brexit boats”, pointing the finger of blame at Farage and co.
There was even a presentation by a team of local councillors giving advice on how to take Reform on. Tell the truth and push back against misinformation was the general upshot.
While Reform is riding high, there’s a strong core of voters who wouldn’t touch them with a barge pole. The next four years will be shaped by the battle for these people, with Sir Ed and co parking their tanks firmly on their front lawns.
It’s often said that the only thing worse than being talked about is not being talked about. So Farage will be delighted to be the name on everyone’s lips down in Bournemouth. Conversely there was barely a mention for Kemi Badenoch over the four days.
In spite of the ramped up rhetoric, this was still a Lib Dem conference. There was an opening parade with Sir Ed banging a drum with a marching band, cricket on the beach and a famous glee club singalong.
But beneath the chirpiness they’re showing their teeth. Supporters were told theirs is the only party representing Britian’s “decent silent majority”.
The battle for Britain’s future is going to be a messy one.
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