Charlie Maynard quits frontbench in bid to topple Ed Davey

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Witney MP Charlie Maynard resigned as a Liberal Democrat Treasury spokesman earlier today and is asking party MPs to back a no-confidence motion against Sir Ed Davey. The move puts the Liberal Democrat leader at risk of a civil war inside his own ranks after growing frustration over the party’s direction.

Mr Maynard, who took Lord Cameron’s former seat by 4,339 votes, rose to notice through his campaign against Thames Water. His resignation came just four days after Alison Bennett stood down as carers spokeswoman. A leadership contest can be triggered if a majority of MPs vote no confidence in Sir Ed, or if at least 75 local party organisations formally request one.

The Liberal Democrats are polling at 10 per cent, down from 12.2 per cent at the last general election. Sir Ed oversaw defeats in all six by-elections contested since 2024, with the party holding its deposit only in Arbroath and Broughty Ferry. He had led them to 72 seats and their best general election result, with gains across the so-called Blue Wall, yet the recent record has left many uneasy.

Deputy leader Daisy Cooper told The Financial Times that the vast majority of MPs were furious at this distraction. She said Liberal Democrats are the last line of defence against a Reform UK Government and that Ed is determined to lead a strong and united party into the next general election. GB News notes the pressure has not eased despite those assurances.

At the 2026 Liberal Democrat Party Conference in Brighton, Sir Ed set out plans to raise the tax-free personal allowance to £15,000 and the higher-rate threshold from £50,271 to £56,000, funded by what he called dividends of growth from rejoining the EU single market and customs union. Devon County Council leader Julian Brazil warned the leadership risked sleepwalking into irrelevance. Liverpool council group leader Carl Cashman called for a more radical approach. South Cotswolds MP Roz Savage asked why the party was struggling for relevance when so many feel powerless, insisting liberalism must rediscover its insurgent spirit rather than act as polite custodians of a system that leaves people feeling powerless.