By Political Correspondent
Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey has launched a scathing attack on both Nigel Farage’s Reform UK and the Scottish National Party, accusing them of employing the same “populist playbook” as Donald Trump.
Speaking at the Scottish Liberal Democrats’ conference in Inverness, Sir Ed painted a stark picture of the future of liberal democracy in the UK, warning it was under threat from “populism and nationalism”. He likened the tactics used by Reform and the SNP to those of the former US President, saying their rhetoric stokes division and undermines public trust.
“We are now engaged in a battle against the populism and nationalism of Reform and the SNP,” Sir Ed told party members. “The playbook is all too familiar — manipulating media, spreading lies, sowing fear. It’s the same one Trump is using in the US.”
The speech came just a day after Jamie Greene MSP quit the Scottish Conservatives and defected to the Liberal Democrats, boosting the party’s presence in Holyrood to five MSPs. Sir Ed welcomed Mr Greene “into the Liberal Democrat family”, describing his move as emblematic of a wider political shift.
“It’s great to have Jamie here. He’s just one of thousands of former Scottish Conservatives now turning to us,” he said. “They’ve seen their old party drift further from the values of decency, fairness, and respect for the rule of law.”
Sir Ed went on to blame successive Tory leaders — from Boris Johnson to Liz Truss and Kemi Badenoch — for pushing the Conservatives into increasingly Trumpian territory, further alienating moderate voters.
His strongest criticism, however, was reserved for Mr Farage and his Reform UK party. Sir Ed accused Mr Farage of “admiring authoritarian strongmen” such as Vladimir Putin and Donald Trump, and of promoting policies that ignore the needs of ordinary Britons.
“These are the people whose interests Farage would serve,” he warned. “Not the people of Inverness. Not the people of Scotland or the UK.”
Turning his fire on domestic issues, Sir Ed condemned what he described as the SNP’s “mess” of the NHS and social care system in Scotland. He also took aim at Mr Farage’s own record, claiming Reform UK’s leader doesn’t support the foundational principle of the NHS: care free at the point of use.
“Farage simply doesn’t believe in universal healthcare,” Sir Ed said. “We Liberal Democrats will always defend the NHS, and we will fight for better social care in Scotland and across the UK.”
In a broadside against both the Conservatives and Labour, Sir Ed accused the Tories of “desperately chasing Reform’s tail” and said Labour were increasingly sounding “more and more like them every day”.
He insisted it was the Liberal Democrats who stood alone in truly challenging populism and restoring faith in democracy.
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“We are the only ones with the courage to stand up and offer something different,” he declared. “The only ones who can truly defeat populism and restore trust.”
Sir Ed urged party activists to take pride in “good old-fashioned community politics”, emphasising the Liberal Democrats’ local roots as the key to their success.
“Working hard for our communities, rolling up our sleeves and getting things done — that’s what sets us apart,” he said. “That’s what our opponents hate most about us. Because we get the job done.”
With his party riding a renewed wave of local support and attracting defectors like Mr Greene, Sir Ed concluded with a rallying cry: “Liberal Democrats are the tireless champions our communities need — in local councils, Holyrood, and Westminster.”
As the general election looms, his message was clear — it’s time to choose between populist rhetoric and principled politics.
