Sir Ed Davey dubbed "Lib Dem Basil Fawlty" for evading Brexit questions

Sir Ed Davey, the leader of the Liberal Democrats, has faced criticism and mockery for his avoidance of discussing whether he wants to rejoin the European Union. Nicknamed the "Lib Dem Basil Fawlty," Sir Ed has been accused of trying to sweep the topic under the carpet.

Lib Dem leader hesitant to commit to rejoining the EU

In recent interviews, Sir Ed Davey was repeatedly asked about the possibility of rejoining the EU. While stating that the idea is not currently on the table, he emphasized that the Liberal Democrats are a pro-European party and expressed the belief that the UK should be back at the heart of Europe. However, he also made it clear that going back into the EU's single market or customs union is "not on the table."

Frustration grows among Lib Dem activists

Lib Dem activists at the party conference in Bournemouth have grown frustrated with their leader's reluctance to address the issue of rejoining the EU. One member heckled Sir Ed on stage, accusing him of trying to avoid the topic. Several others have called for the party to prioritize discussing their position on Brexit.

Critics compare Sir Ed Davey to Basil Fawlty

Tory MP Jonathan Gullis compared Sir Ed Davey to the famous sitcom character Basil Fawlty, suggesting that the Liberal Democrat leader's avoidance of Brexit questions is a desperate ploy. He speculated that Sir Ed may have realized that voters do not agree with him and that Sir Keir Starmer may have advised him to change his approach if he wants to become Deputy Prime Minister in a potential coalition government.

Activist rebellion thwarts key policy change

Sir Ed Davey suffered another setback as an activist rebellion blocked a proposal to scrap housing targets as a key policy. A heated debate on the matter collapsed into infighting, ultimately resulting in the motion being overturned.