Liberal Democrats propose £2bn transport package as party seeks clearer message
The proposals include a temporary fuel-duty cut, a £1 bus-fare cap and lower rail fares, as polling highlights limited public awareness of the party’s policies.
The Liberal Democrats have proposed a package the party values at £2bn, including a 10p-a-litre cut in fuel duty for three months.
The plan, unveiled at the party’s conference in Brighton, would also reduce the bus-fare cap from £3 to £1 and cut rail fares by 10%. The measures remain proposals, with their final form, costings and implementation not established in the supplied material.
Ed Davey was due to set out the transport measures in his main conference speech. Deputy leader Daisy Cooper used her speech to promote closer economic ties with Europe, including the party’s existing aim of rejoining the EU single market.
The proposals come as Liberal Democrat members express concern that voters do not have a clear understanding of what the party stands for. The Guardian reported that More in Common polling presented at the conference found 39% of voters said they had an idea of the party’s position.
The research also found that 16% of voters said they had heard from the Liberal Democrats in recent months, compared with 66% for Reform. Davey’s party is reported to be polling at about 12% nationally, amid competition from Reform UK and the Greens.
The Liberal Democrats won 71 MPs at the 2024 general election. Davey has defended the party’s record in local elections while some MPs and activists argue that it needs a broader and more distinctive message.
