Lib Dems Want To Be The Least "Bonkers" Opposition To A Labour Government

Liberal Democrat MPs are considering how they can provide "credible opposition" to a potential future Labour government, by increasing their presence in the House of Commons and encouraging "bolder" legislative changes.

While the Lib Dems are not expected to win enough seats to form a government at the next general election, which must be called before the end of this year, it is widely expected that they will see a healthy boost to the number of seats they hold in the House of Commons. How they could use their role as a more significant opposition party to shape legislation is therefore increasingly in the spotlight. 

To achieve that though, the party machine must remain focused on its mission to ensure Lib Dem can win as many seats as possible, particularly in the hope of overtaking the SNP to become the third largest party. One Lib Dem MP told PoliticsHome this would be crucial to their ability to make legislative changes and hold the government to account, particularly through having more members and chairs of influential select committees. The MP said they themselves would hope to run for election as a committee chair if the opportunity arose.  

Members, campaigners, candidates and parliamentarians gathered in York for what could be the final conference before the next general election, expected by the end of this year. And "get the Tories out" was the resounding message – as it has been for some time. 

MP and former party leader Tim Farron gave a rousing speech at the rally on Friday evening, in which he described the election as being about "removing the worst government in our lifetimes". But he also felt that the Liberals would be "needed" to push a Labour government into bold action on climate, health and social