‘Flip the table and rise up’: Lib Dem president Josh Babarinde pushes combative agenda at Brighton conference

Josh Babarinde spoke to delegates and reporters as the Liberal Democrats gathered in Brighton for their annual conference. He is 33, the party president, and the MP for Eastbourne. The conference follows a strong 2024 general election that left the Lib Dems with 71 MPs, yet the party has been polling at roughly 11% for months.

Standing outside Toynbee Hall in London's East End, Babarinde used direct language about who he thinks is blocking people's prospects. He said, "There are big modern giants that are getting in the way of people's ability to thrive, and it is the job of Liberal Democrats to address that." He added, "How are we going to do that? Well, first of all, we've got to flip the table over and rise up."

Babarinde named big technology firms and crypto billionaires as targets for the party's attention. He argued that the Conservatives and Reform UK occupy different parts of the political field and that Lib Dems must identify who stands in the way of progress and set out specific remedies. He rejected the idea that the party lacks retail policies, saying there is "oodles and oodles of it," but stressed the need to reach beyond middle England.

He wants the party to combine its well-regarded ground campaign with stronger digital outreach to win new voters. Babarinde cited his own experience engaging hard-to-reach communities: he founded a smartphone repair social enterprise a decade ago that employed former offenders and at-risk youth. The project, which earned him an OBE, shaped his view of politics as practical problem-solving rather than waiting for external interventions.

The Lib Dem leader, Ed Davey, remains a central figure. Delegates have heard speeches that explicitly critique figures outside the party: Davey has publicly criticised Reform UK and named Elon Musk in conference addresses. Internally, some MPs express frustration at limited media attention and debate whether the party should be voters' first choice or focus primarily on blocking Reform UK.

He downplays speculation about seeking the party leadership while noting that as president he has a significant role in strategy and organisation. He says he stood for the presidency to help craft a new strategy intended to push the party to "reach new heights."

Babarinde presents a combative, practical message: confront concentrated private power, expand outreach, and build on community-stage projects that translate to votes. The challenge remains converting conference energy into sustained polling gains and broader media traction.