Not even Liberal Democrats like Ed Davey, damning new poll reveals

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By SAM MERRIMAN, POLITICAL CORRESPONDENT

Published: 06:01 BST, 19 September 2026 | Updated: 06:10 BST, 19 September 2026

Not even the Liberal Democrat membership is enamoured with Ed Davey, according to a damning new poll released on the first day of the party’s annual conference.

Lib Dem members are the most dissatisfied with their leader compared to other parties – with Sir Ed twice as unpopular with his base as Andy Burnham is with Labour members.

And new analysis from pollster Ipsos has found that only half of 2024 Lib Dem voters would still back the party in 2026, with 23 per cent defecting to parties on the Left and 15 per cent to the Right.

The party is currently polling at around 9 per cent in national polls – placing it behind the Greens on 12 per cent, Tories on 18 per cent and trailing Reform UK (25 per cent) and Labour (28 per cent).

And amid stagnant polling figures, there has been some disquiet within the party, with questions asked about Sir Ed’s ability to cut through with the public.

Among the Lib Dem’s own supporters, net satisfaction ratings for Sir Ed lag behind other political figures across the spectrum, including Mr Burnham, Nigel Farage, and Kemi Badenoch.

This is reflected in the Ipsos poll, with 14 per cent of Lib Dem members dissatisfied with their leader, 33 per cent unsure and 53 per cent satisfied, giving Sir Ed a net satisfaction rating of +39.

It comes after Lib Dem MP Roz Savage broke ranks to warn her party is ‘struggling for relevance’ and failing to paint a ‘coherent picture of the country we are trying to create’.

A new poll found that 14 per cent of Lib Dem members are dissatisfied with their leader, 33 per cent are unsure and 53 per cent are satisfied, giving Sir Ed a net satisfaction rating of +39

Sir Ed has become known for his stunts - much to the ire of some Lib Dem activists who want the party to portray a more serious image 

Pictured: The Lib Dem leader hurtling himself down a giant slip 'n slide in an inflatable ring for a General Election stunt

In an essay published ahead of the party’s conference on Saturday, the South Cotswolds MP wrote: ‘We need to take a long hard look at ourselves.’

Meanwhile Tory leader Mrs Badenoch has a net satisfaction rating of +46, Zack Polanski gets a net +72 rating from Green Party members, and Mr Farage gets a net +73 rating from Reform UK members.

And the poll found Prime Minister Mr Burnham has a net satisfaction rating of +61 among Labour members, with 7 per cent dissatisfied, 25 per cent unsure, and 68 per cent satisfied with his leadership.

While the poll showed that Sir Ed is recognised for personal warmth, it also indicated this affection does not translate into commanding political authority or a clear brand. 

While 35 per cent of Britons view Sir Ed as an honest person and 31 per cent see him as in touch with ordinary people, only 21 per cent feel he has the right plans for Britain 

Pollsters said the data shows the Lib Dems and Sir Ed are facing an ‘intense battle for relevance on the national stage’.

Alex Bogdan, research director at Ipsos, said the Lib Dems currently find themselves ‘caught in a difficult political purgatory’.

‘While previously they have traditionally thrived when transitional Labour and Conservative voters have been in the market for an alternative, they’ve yet to find their firm place in our increasingly fragmented politics,’ he said.

‘With half of their 2024 voters looking elsewhere or sitting undecided, the central challenge for the leadership is proving why the Liberal Democrats remain a necessary force in a volatile political era.’

However Sir Ed struck a defiant tone ahead of his party’s conference as he sought to see off any doubts about his leadership, claiming Reform and the Tories will need to break down an ‘Orange Wall’ to get into government.

He said: ‘Liberal Democrats are the only party with a plan to take the brakes off the British economy, get money back into people’s pockets, and defend the traditional values that make our country great.

‘Britain feels broken because it’s being held back. This conference, we’ll be setting out our vision to fix our broken politics and change our country for the better.’