Lib Dem MP quits frontbench job over Ed Davey's leadership

Liberal Democrat MP Charlie Maynard has resigned from the party's frontbench, calling for Sir Ed Davey's replacement as leader. Maynard, who represents the Oxfordshire constituency of Witney, stepped down from his role as Treasury spokesman on Friday. Internal sources confirm a small group of Liberal Democrat MPs are unhappy with Davey's leadership, with many of Maynard's colleagues expressing fury over the distraction.

Deputy leader Daisy Cooper stated that the vast majority of MPs support Davey and want him to continue leading the party into the next election. Maynard, first elected in 2024, won a seat previously held by David Cameron with a majority of over 4,000. Prior to his political career, he ran an international mergers and acquisitions advisory firm.

This is the second frontbench resignation this week, following Alison Bennett's decision to leave her position as spokesperson for care and carers. To initiate a leadership contest, a Lib Dem MP must secure nominations from at least 10% of the parliamentary party, not including themselves, and have the backing of 200 members across at least 20 local parties.

Currently in his sixth year as party leader, Davey led the Liberal Democrats to their highest election success in 2024 with 72 seats. However, the party has struggled to capitalize on that victory, with polling numbers remaining low. Recently, some Lib Dems have criticized Davey's stance on the triple lock, a mechanism that ensures the state pension increases annually based on inflation, wage growth, or 2.5%, whichever is highest.

Davey criticized the proposed adjustment to the triple lock by Andy Burnham, arguing it would put pensioners at risk of poverty. This has sparked criticism from within the party and raised questions about Davey's leadership.