I've got no ceiling on Lib Dem ambitions, says leader Ed Davey

Sir Ed Davey and Lib Dem MPs visited a wind farm off the south coast of England

Lib Dem leader Sir Ed Davey has insisted he is not just aiming to be a junior partner in a coalition government, saying: "I am a candidate to be prime minister."

Sir Ed has faced criticism from some in his party that he lacks ambition and the vision needed to cut through in a crowded political field.

Sir Ed led the Lib Dems to a record 72 MPs at the 2024 election, making big gains at the expense of the Conservatives in southern England, but the party has since slipped to fourth or fifth in national opinion polls, behind Labour, the Tories, the Greens and Reform UK.

"Because the right wing is split," he said, "and fragmented like it's never happened before in over 200 years of British parliamentary elections.

Asked if he wanted to be the kingmaker in the next government, providing support for a party falling short of the 326 MPs needed for a majority, Sir Ed said: "I've got no ceiling on our ambitions.

He made clear he will not go into a coalition government with Reform UK and has dismissed suggestions he could do a deal with the Conservatives.

Asked if he would form a coalition with Labour, he said he did not deal in "hypotheticals".

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Sir Ed was speaking just before he headed out to visit the wind farm off the coast of Brighton, which he said he had signed off on when he was energy secretary in the Conservative-Lib Dem coalition government a decade ago.