Ed Davey
Leader, Liberal Democrats · Leader 2020–
In one sentence
Whipped a party that voted against every tightening bill of the last parliament.
The Liberal Democrats voted against the Nationality and Borders Act, the Illegal Migration Act and the Safety of Rwanda Act. Davey's party wants high legal migration, ECHR entrenchment, and a self-image as the humanitarian opposition to enforcement. In a hung parliament they are the block on any Conservative or Reform attempt to leave Strasbourg or revive third-country removal. Their 2024 manifesto treated 'compassion' as the policy and control as the slur.
The Rwanda scheme is unworkable, unethical and eye-wateringly expensive.
What they did
2021–2024
Three noes
NABA, IMA, Rwanda — Lib Dem MPs against, every time. No serious internal dissent.
2024 manifesto
Stay in the ECHR
Explicit commitment. Incompatible with the only legal path that would make a Rwanda-style scheme bite.
How they voted
Blocked it / opened it means they voted against tighter rules, or for the Human Rights Act. Backed it means they voted for a tightening bill.
| Bill | What they did | Note |
|---|---|---|
HRA 1998 1998 | Opened it | Lib Dems backed the Human Rights Act. |
NABA 2022 2022 | Blocked it | Party against. |
IMA 2023 2023 | Blocked it | Party against. |
Rwanda Act 2024 2024 | Blocked it | Party against, 276 included Lib Dems. |
Sources: Hansard division lists; Lib Dem 2024 manifesto