Senior Liberal Democrat MP quits front bench in bid to oust leader Sir Ed Davey

Senior Liberal Democrat MP quits front bench in bid to oust leader Sir Ed Davey Charlie Maynard, MP for Witney, resigned from his Treasury spokesman role on Friday - Bookmark - CommentsGo to comments Become an Independent member to bookmark this article Already a member? Log in Charlie Maynard, the MP for Witney, has resigned from his role as a Treasury spokesman on Friday in a move reported to be aimed at removing leader Sir Ed Davey. The Liberal Democrats confirmed the senior MP’s departure from the party's front bench. According to the Financial Times, Mr Maynard's resignation is intended to prompt Sir Ed’s removal, with the politician reportedly asking parliamentary colleagues to support a vote of no confidence in the party leader. Lib Dem deputy leader Daisy Cooper backed Sir Ed, saying the “vast majority” of the party’s MPs wanted him to remain as leader and were “furious at this distraction”. She said: “We Liberal Democrats are the last line of defence against a Reform UK government, and Ed is determined to lead a strong and united party into the next general election whenever it comes. “As Ed said at conference we are in the fight of our lives against the right who want to turn our country into their version of Trump’s America.” Mr Maynard himself declined to comment. His resignation comes amid reported frustration with the party’s lack of progress since the 2024 election that saw it secure a record 72 MPs. Since then, the party has gained little ground in the polls, with the latest YouGov survey putting the Liberal Democrats on 11% – just below their share in 2024. This is a breaking news story, more to follow... Join our commenting forum Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies Comments