Ed Davey Blames Brexit for Small Boat Crossings, Criticizes Opponents

Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey has pointed to Brexit as the root cause of the ongoing migrant boat crossings in the English Channel, while accusing the Conservative and Reform UK parties of exploiting the issue for political gain. Davey made these remarks during interviews with BBC local radio stations ahead of his party's annual conference.

"We didn't have the small boats problem before Brexit. It's been caused by the Conservatives... caused by Nigel Farage," Davey stated. He called for the government to engage in negotiations with the EU Commission to rejoin its pact on migration and asylum. This pact, he explained, would permit migrants to be returned to the EU state from which they arrived, a practice he believes was an effective deterrent before Brexit. "When you see something working you want to be part of it. And if it would give us the right to return everyone who came in small boats, surely we'd want to do that, wouldn't we? It worked before. And if you want tough action, the Liberal Democrats are offering it," he said.

Davey's comments come amid continued concerns about the number of individuals arriving on small boats. He asserted that the current figures, while showing a decrease under the Labour government, are "nowhere near enough" and were achieved through international cooperation, which he advocates for increasing.

During his media appearances, Davey also addressed other policy areas, including the cost of living and pensions. He pledged that the Liberal Democrats would present plans to tackle the cost of living crisis at their upcoming conference. Regarding pensions, he affirmed his party's commitment to the triple lock, which ensures state pensions increase by the highest of average wage growth, inflation, or 2.5%. Davey argued that the triple lock remains sustainable and has been crucial in reducing pensioner poverty, stating it can coexist with efforts to support young people's employment.

On the subject of political donations, Davey voiced his support for a cap on donations, citing his long-held stance on the issue. He recalled the Liberal Democrats' attempt to introduce such a cap when they were in government with the Conservatives, an effort that was blocked by a coalition of Labour and Conservative votes. He defended past donations received by his party, explaining that they operated within existing rules, but reiterated his desire to change those rules.

Looking towards the next general election, Davey positioned the Liberal Democrats as a bulwark against Reform UK, particularly in areas where his party is the only viable alternative to Nigel Farage's party. He described it as his party's "moral responsibility" to counter Reform UK's platform, which he characterized as divisive and lacking practical policies. He also highlighted public concerns about large sums of money entering politics and potential foreign interference through parties like Reform UK.