Will the Lib Dems’ immigration message minimize via?
Sir Ed Davey’s all-singing, all-dancing entry to the convention was designed to advertise two messages.
The primary, most clearly, was to focus on his occasion’s buoyant temper after final yr’s document haul of 72 MPs and a sequence of native election wins – fairly a distinction to the more and more public infighting amongst each the Conservatives and Labour.
The second was a bid to wrest again the idea of patriotism away from what he described because the “divisive politics” of Reform UK.
The tunes have been cheerful pop classics and ticker tape rained down on the assembled activists, joyfully waving their union flags – fairly a distinction to the divisive debate over the usage of flags this summer time.
Sir Ed is adamant his occasion isn’t dancing to Farage’s tune.
However they’re actually turning their fireplace on Reform – with Lego Farage collectible figurines labelled “plastic patriots”, full with MAGA hats, handed out to convention attendees.
Whereas the insurance policies might not have modified all that a lot, Sir Ed’s feedback concerning the significance of deporting unlawful migrants from protected international locations comparable to Turkey and Brazil actually gave the impression of more durable rhetoric than now we have heard earlier than.
Lower than a mile away there was a really completely different form of march. Demonstrators brandishing a lot larger flags made their approach from Bournemouth pier to one of many city’s three asylum lodges, chanting about stopping the boats, wanting their nation again – and even – when the procession handed two girls carrying them – banning burqas.
They have been met by a bunch of counter-protesters eager to welcome refugees (separated by a number of rows of law enforcement officials).
Neither aspect was particularly impressed by what the Lib Dems needed to say – although counter-protesters welcomed the occasion’s dedication to protected and authorized routes, and requires asylum seekers to be allowed to work and contribute to society.
The Lib Dems then held a rally of their very own – however the debate over asylum and patriotism is a loud one. Will they be capable of minimize via the noise?
