LIBDEM MP MAYNARD QUITS FRONTBENCH SEEKING DAVEY REMOVAL

Liberal Democrat MP Charlie Maynard has resigned as the party's Treasury spokesman, in what the Financial Times first reported was an attempt to remove leader Sir Ed Davey. The party confirmed Maynard, who represents Witney, left his frontbench role on Friday. He is reported to have asked fellow MPs to back a vote of no confidence in Davey. Deputy leader Daisy Cooper said the "vast majority" of the party's MPs support Davey and want him to lead them into the next general election, adding that colleagues were "furious at this distraction". Those close to Davey have privately acknowledged a "small group" of MPs are unhappy with his leadership, of which Maynard is one.

Maynard was elected to the Oxfordshire seat in 2024, taking the traditionally Conservative constituency, formerly held by David Cameron, with a majority of more than 4,000. Before entering Parliament he ran an international mergers and acquisitions advisory firm. He is the second Liberal Democrat to leave the frontbench this week, after Alison Bennett resigned her post as spokesperson for care and carers; Bennett has not confirmed her reasons, though it is understood personal circumstances were not the cause. Davey has led the party for six years and took it to its biggest general election result in 2024, winning 72 seats, but the party has struggled to build on that result, with a recent YouGov poll putting it on 11% support. Some Liberal Democrats have also criticised Davey's position on the pension triple lock, after he said Andy Burnham's proposal to adjust it would "put more pensioners into poverty".

Under Liberal Democrat rules, a leadership contest can be triggered if a vote of no confidence passes with backing from a majority of the party's MPs. Any MP entering a subsequent contest would need nominations from at least 10% of the parliamentary party, excluding themselves, plus the backing of 200 members across at least 20 local parties. No such vote has yet been confirmed as having taken place.