The Lib Dem conference picked up from where the party left off during the election campaign, with leader Ed Davey arriving on a jet-ski, and an all-together-now rendition of ABBA’s ‘Take a Chance on Me’ before his keynote speech.

The Lib Dems proudly highlighted their success in securing 72 MPs in the summer election, expressing optimism that the party could “finish the job” of “bashing down the rest of the Blue Wall”, with the ambition to become the official opposition.

While some media questioned whether the party is more focused on opposing the Conservatives than the Labour government, deputy leader Daisy Cooper emphasised the Lib Dems are committed to holding Keir Starmer’s government to account.

Health, health, and more health

The Lib Dems heavily focused on the NHS, urging Labour to provide emergency funding in the October budget. In response to the Prime Minister insisting on no extra funding without reform, the Lib Dems argued for both reform and investment at the same time, criticising the state of hospitals and vowing to pressure Labour to address the NHS and social care crisis.

Daisy Cooper shared her personal experience of Crohn’s disease, crediting the NHS for saving her life, but warning that others today might not receive the same care. She blamed the Conservatives for the NHS crisis and GP waiting times now hitting four weeks.

Ed Davey called for a ‘winterproof NHS taskforce’ to end yearly winter crises, criticising the government’s short-term fixes and pledging to hold Labour accountable while presenting the Lib Dems as a hopeful alternative to Starmer’s pessimism.

Other policy areas

The Lib Dems also reiterated their neutral stance on public ownership of railways, as the government advances plans to renationalise British rail.

Housebuilding was a key focus, with discussions on Labour’s plans to increase construction across the UK.

Ed Davey pledged to challenge the scrapping of universal winter fuel payments to pensioners and promised to push for a youth mobility agreement with the EU.

Will the PM allude to any remarks during his keynote speech at Labour Party conference?

We will find out next week as the Labour Party heads to Liverpool for its first conference as the party of government in more than a decade.