The Guardian World · Oct 18, 2026

‘Damp squib’: Ed Davey can breathe easy as Lib Dem leadership challenge fails to materialise

Lengthy meeting heard grumbles about ‘blue wall’ policies and ‘Ming vase’ tactics but no real rancour As political showdowns go, this week’s gathering of Liberal Democrat MPs, billed by some as a crunch moment for Ed Davey, was a touch underwhelming.