Ed Davey calls for 'once in generation' election

Sir Ed Davey will urge Liberal Democrats to "make this a once-in-a-generation election" in his speech at the party's spring conference.

He will argue his is the only party to offer "transformational change" at the general election, calling on members to "bring the blue wall tumbling down".

The party leader will focus on the NHS in his speech in York on Sunday setting out reforms so people can see a GP, dentist or pharmacist.

No date has been set for the election.

It has to be held by January next year with Prime Minister Rishi Sunak this week ruling out holding an election on 2 May, having previously indicated it would be in the second half of the year.

But Sir Ed is urging Mr Sunak to "go to the palace" immediately and call for a general election, saying: "The country can't wait a moment longer to see the back of this terrible Conservative government."

He accused Labour and the Conservatives of "tinkering around the edges" and "trying to cloak themselves in the costume of change, but they're both really saying 'keep things the same'".

The Liberal Democrats, he is to claim, offer a "truly fair deal" and "want to change the whole system".

The party won 11 seats at the last general election in 2019, and has since gained four formerly Conservative constituencies in southern England after by-elections. These are Chesham and Amersham in Buckinghamshire, Frome in Somerset, Tiverton and Honiton in Devon, and North Shropshire.

Emphasising his focus on the NHS, Sir Ed will call for a health service "where community and primary healthcare services are the priority".

"Investing in public health, in prevention, in early access," he will say.

"Spending wisely to save lives and save money in the long-run, instead of just throwing cash at crisis after crisis, with nothing to show for it. Better for the NHS. Better for taxpayers. Better for patients."

The Lib Dems are using the conference to prepare to push into areas traditionally held by Conservatives, including more seats in the south and south-west of England.

"In so many parts of the country, only we can beat the Conservatives," Sir Ed will say. "And we must."

He called on members to "knock on five million doors" and "get more brilliant Liberal Democrats elected to transform our country for the better".

While polls suggest Labour is on course to win the election, Sir Ed would not be drawn on discussions of a power-sharing pact, if there was a hung Parliament.

"I don't believe in pacts or deals before an election," he said.

The Lib Dems are targeting seats including those held by Chancellor Jeremy Hunt and Communities Secretary Michael Gove. But it has been suggested by some polls that far-right Reform UK has overtaken the Lib Dems in terms of popularity.

The spring conference comes to an end on Sunday.