September 17th 2024.
Coming up next, Sir Ed Davey has shared some behind-the-scenes stories from his eventful General Election campaign this year. The Liberal Democrat leader made quite the impression with his attention-grabbing stunts in various target constituencies leading up to polling day. From paddleboarding in Windermere to sliding down a water slide in Somerset and even bungee jumping in Eastbourne, Davey certainly knew how to make a statement and put the spotlight on his party's policies.
But in his final speech at the party conference in Brighton, Davey revealed that there were two ideas that didn't quite make the cut. With a mischievous smile, he confessed to the audience that he was tempted to stick his arm up a cow's rectum or even try his hand at wing walking on a biplane. However, health and safety regulations got in the way, much to the relief of his team who were still trying to convince him to save those stunts for the next election.
As Davey took to the stage, the upbeat tune of Abba's "Take A Chance On Me" filled the room and the leader even sang a few lines before beginning his speech. Surrounded by his 72 MPs, he took the time to thank the hardworking activists who helped secure the party's best ever election result. He also gave a special shoutout to his wife Emily, who has been a constant support throughout his political career. Interestingly, the couple first met while working on a Liberal Democrat Housing Policy Working Group, as Davey revealed during an appearance on Question Time.
Amidst all the serious topics discussed in his speech, Davey couldn't resist adding some humor by joking about the sudden rise in applications for the Federal Policy Committee after his revelation about meeting his wife on a working group. "Move over Tinder, join the Liberal Democrats for a chance at love!" he quipped, much to the amusement of the audience.
While healthcare and social care were key issues addressed in his speech, it was Davey's call for a new youth mobility scheme between the UK and Europe that received the loudest applause from the crowd. It was a clear indication of the party members' strong stance on European Union membership and their hopes for a future reversal of Brexit.
As the conference drew to a close, Davey entered the stage to Abba's "Take A Chance On Me" and left to Neil Diamond's "Sweet Caroline", with the leader singing along to both songs. During a Q&A session on Sunday, when asked if they believed the Lib Dems should be unwavering in their support for Britain rejoining the EU, an overwhelming majority of the audience raised their hands, demonstrating their unwavering dedication to the cause.
It was the second conference to take place during parliament's annual conference season, following the Green Party's conference last week. Nigel Farage is scheduled to speak at the Reform UK conference on Friday, followed by Labour's conference on Sunday. The Conservative event will kick off a week later on September 29.
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