Sir Ed Davey accused the Reform UK leader Nigel Farage of trying to create ‘division and fear’, and warned about turning Britain into the ‘worst of Trump’s America’
Sir Ed Davey vowed to stop Nigel Farage(Image: Anadolu via Getty Images)
Nigel Farage is “fanning the flames of hatred and intolerance” to make himself richer and get into power, the Lib Dem leader has claimed.
Sir Ed Davey accused the Reform UK leader trying to create “division and fear”, and described stopping Mr Farage’s party as the “fight of our lives”.
His comments came in a speech closing his party conference, where Sir Ed also announced an income tax cut he claimed could save millions of people £680 a year.
Warning of the rise of the far-right, he said: “This is a far-right movement that is given oxygen, and heat, and fuel by politicians and parties who claim to be serious contenders to lead our country.
“Cynical politicians like Nigel Farage. Not just willing, but eager to fan the flames of hatred and intolerance to make himself richer. To get himself into power.
“Trying to create a nation of division and fear – because that’s what keeps him going. That is not who we are.
“It is the worst of Trump’s America. We must not let it become Farage’s Britain. It has real consequences, on our streets and in our communities.”
The Lib Dem leader gave the example of attacks on volunteers of the Royal National Lifeboat Institution, and also raised concerns over the party being backed by £72 million from two crypto billionaires.
He added: “We are in the fight of our lives. And it is a fight we must win.”
The Kingston and Surbiton MP also claimed Kemi Badenoch was driving people away from the Tories towards the Lib Dems.
He said: “Kemi Badenoch is now blocking anyone from standing for the Conservatives who cares about human rights or climate action.
“Millions of decent, moderate Conservative voters are getting her message, and they’re turning away – increasingly, to us.
“That’s what happens when you talk only to yourselves. You don’t just keep people out. You drive your own people away.”
Elsewhere in his speech Sir Ed promised to take 760,000 people out of the higher rate (40p) tax band by raising the threshold to £56,000.
The party says this would raise the tax-free personal allowance from £12,570 to £15,000, taking 2.5 million of the lowest-paid workers out of income tax completely.
Sir Ed said: “We can cut taxes and support the most vulnerable people in our country. Because we will pay for our tax cut fairly and honestly.
“Not with more borrowing. Not with fantasy spending cuts that never materialise. Not by hiking your taxes by stealth elsewhere. We will pay for it from the dividends of growth.”
