Sir Ed Davey Vows to Champion Carers in Passionate Liberal Democrat Conference Speech

At the Liberal Democrat conference, Sir Ed Davey vows to advocate passionately for caregivers, emphasizing in his heartfelt address that "care and carers must no longer be overlooked or neglected." He commits to raising the issue in parliament, asserting that "no one else will."

By Alix Culbertson, political correspondent, in Brighton

Tuesday, September 17, 2024, 4:

Sir Ed Davey has committed to advocating for caregivers, positioning his party as the "responsible opposition."

During a heartfelt keynote address in Brighton on Tuesday, the leader of the Liberal Democrats emphasized that "it is crucial that both care and caregivers receive the attention they deserve without further delay."

"He emphasized that if the Liberal Democrats fail to provide that optimism and don't advocate for care in Parliament, nobody else will step up to do so," he stated.

It's common knowledge that the Conservatives are perceived as indifferent. However, it might come as a surprise that carers didn't receive a single mention in Labour's election manifesto, nor were they acknowledged in the King's Speech.

"However, caregivers were included in Keir Starmer's initial Prime Minister's Questions session, thanks to my intervention."

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Sir Ed discussed his early responsibilities, including caring for his mother during her battle with bone cancer and later taking care of his beloved grandmother, who became his guardian after he lost both of his parents.

"He mentioned, 'Emily and I are raising our incredible, cheerful 16-year-old son John, who faces significant challenges due to his severe disabilities.'"

Even at the early hour of 5:30 AM, when he yells out 'Daddy' to rouse me from sleep, I consider it a gift—especially since he was already nine years old by the time he could first utter 'Daddy'.

"However, while there are enjoyable moments and numerous advantages, I must admit, looking after your family can be challenging. It involves managing daily uncertainties and creating plans that frequently do not materialize."

"Countless individuals nationwide are aware that the life of a caregiver can be incredibly tiring."

Davey's speech was irresistibly engaging

Political correspondent

The celebration was unmistakably jubilant. Seventy-one Liberal Democrat MPs took to the stage, their faces beaming as they moved to the rhythm of ABBA tunes, just before their leader, Sir Ed Davey, stepped up for his main address. Truthfully, it was difficult to resist joining in the sway.

Unsurprisingly, the 2024 election served as a triumphant moment for the Lib Dems, marking their most successful outcome to date with their parliamentary seats almost quintupling since last year's party conference.

Heading into this address, there were numerous inquiries regarding the true principles of the party. Do they plan to challenge Labour from a more progressive or conservative angle? Will they concentrate on pressuring the current administration, or will they direct their criticisms towards the Conservatives?

In his recent address, Sir Ed made one thing unmistakable: he envisions the Liberal Democrats as champions of the NHS, with a special emphasis on social care. He declared emphatically, “Care and carers cannot be overlooked.”

The Liberal Democrats have identified a chance, as Labour continues to develop their strategy for social care. Sir Ed's personal experiences with caring for both his son and his mother will strike a chord with numerous individuals.

Interestingly, he continues to direct his most severe criticisms primarily at the Conservatives, rather than the Labour Party.

He criticized the Conservatives for being "incapable of serving as the Opposition." The Liberal Democrats seized nearly all of their 72 seats from the Conservatives (among them four cabinet ministers), highlighting their aspirations to achieve even more.

In numerous constituencies where the Liberal Democrats were runners-up, their performance was quite close to that of the Conservatives. Today, Sir Ed issued a clear message to the Conservatives, positioning his party as the primary challenger.

Throughout their electoral campaign, the Liberal Democrats shared a video featuring Sir Ed and his spouse Emily as they cared for their son, John, who suffers from a neurological disorder that has yet to be diagnosed.

He expressed surprise at the overwhelming number of sincere and touching replies, sharing a story about a 15-year-old who has cared for his mother, who suffers from multiple sclerosis, since he was five.

The young man, Joseph, described the experience as the "hardest yet most fulfilling feeling" and mentioned he had "never truly had the chance to express himself."

Sir Ed relayed that Joseph had written: "I wanted to inform you that individuals like you are present everywhere. Though quiet and often muted, we continue to exist."

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After four days of festivities marking the Lib Dems' best electoral performance in 100 years, Sir Ed urged the government to establish a new taskforce aimed at preparing the NHS for the winter season.

His spokesperson was unable to offer specifics on the mechanism of its operation.

He also stated that the 72 Liberal Democrat MPs would serve as "the accountable opposition to this administration," ensuring that the Labour Party answers for its commitments to resolve the issues left by the Conservatives.

A spokesperson for Sir Ed stated that the party remains committed to success in local elections and plans to gain additional seats from the Conservatives in the upcoming election by prioritizing local issues and priorities.

Sir Ed gained recognition throughout the election campaign for his eye-catching antics, which he maintained at the conference by making an entrance on a jet ski, engaging in a game of beach volleyball, and constructing a stile.

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In his address, he disclosed that health and safety regulations prevented him from "inserting my hand into the rear of a cow or engaging in wing walking on a biplane."

The spokesperson mentioned that while the concept involving the cow was taken into serious consideration, it was ultimately not pursued because of health and safety worries for both the cow and Sir Ed.

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