The Liberal Democrats 2025 Party Conference: from celebration to strategy

The Liberal Democrats Autumn 2025 party conference in Bournemouth marked a decisive change in tone. Where last year was defined by jubilation at their historic general election, this year the focus was on strategy, influence, and the next wave of electoral contests.

Ed Davey's opening stunt for conference took inspiration from recent cultural debates on patriotism, deliberately leaning into the symbolism of the Union flag – a move which was replicated by former leader, Tim Farron, during the party's 'rally'. Both were clear challenges to reclaim patriotism from the populist right and set themselves up as the antithesis of Reform. By embracing an 'inclusive' brand of national pride, the party tapped into broader public mood for unity and community, while simultaneously carving out space in a polarised debate.

The rally and fringes throughout the weekend featured sober notes on the electoral road ahead. With local and regional elections looming in 2026, the message was unmistakable: the party’s future victories will be won on the ground. Constituencies where Lib Dems have deep community roots remain their strongest base, and activists were urged to double down on local campaigning as the foundation for national influence.

Business presence was felt most strongly in areas where the Lib Dems have consistently set the agenda – climate, energy, and health. Companies in these sectors were visible and vocal, reflecting confidence that the party is shaping debates that matter. By contrast, many of the same businesses appear to view the upcoming Conservative Party conference as unlikely to bear fruit, choosing instead to invest their resources in conversations with a party they see as growing in influence. It will be interesting to see whether that claim rings true in a couple of weeks when the Conservatives gather in Manchester.

For businesses absent altogether, the warning was sharp: ignore the Lib Dems at your peril. With Labour in government adopting and implementing many policies that originated with the Lib Dems, the party’s influence on national policymaking shouldn't be underestimated. Companies were encouraged to engage not just in Westminster but also at the local and regional level, where much of the Lib Dems’ political strength is rooted.

Environmental leadership once again featured heavily. Pippa Heylings signalled the Lib Dems’ determination to take the lead in Parliament by building a cross-party caucus on climate and nature. This follows Roz Savage’s parliamentary campaign for a Climate and Nature Bill earlier this year, reinforcing the party’s claim to remain the UK’s most consistent and relevant green voice – something which some would argue has been made harder with Zack Polanski taking the reigns as the new Green Party Leader.

Beyond climate, the conference reinforced the Lib Dems’ role as the “constructive opposition”. Davey and senior figures balanced recognition of Labour’s early achievements with sharp calls for the government to be bolder, faster, and more ambitious. It is a positioning designed to project pragmatism as well as principle: supportive where possible, but unafraid to apply pressure.

The leader’s speech rounded off the week by tying together these themes. While continuing to spar with Reform, Davey reminded members that the Conservative Party remains a weakened but still dangerous rival. With humour, he revisited Kemi Badenoch’s ill-fated jibe about Lib Dems “fixing church roofs” – a line now proudly reclaimed as a badge of honour for being community champions. Davey also used his speech to spotlight the party’s bold international policy positions, setting the Lib Dems apart from rivals he accused of ducking difficult truths and avoiding the clarity voters deserve.

The overarching message was clear: the Lib Dems will thrive where they have deep local roots. For businesses, this means engagement strategies must pivot to the local level. Building relationships with Lib Dem councillors and local authority leaders (of which we were reminded there are over 70) can open doors to influence that later resonates in Westminster. Policy shaping begins in communities, and the Lib Dems are positioning themselves as the political vehicle to carry those ideas upward.