Liberal Democrat Treasury spokesperson Charlie Maynard has resigned from his frontbench role, citing a desire for new leadership for the party.
Key facts
- •Charlie Maynard was elected as the MP for Witney in 2024, winning a seat previously held by David Cameron.
- •Alison Bennett, the party's spokesperson for care and carers, resigned from the frontbench earlier in the same week.
- •The Liberal Democrats currently hold 71 seats in the House of Commons.
- •To trigger a leadership contest, a candidate requires nominations from at least 10% of the parliamentary party.
- •Daisy Cooper stated that the majority of MPs want Sir Ed Davey to lead the party into the next general election.
Charlie Maynard, the Liberal Democrat MP for Witney and the party's Treasury spokesperson, resigned from his frontbench position on Friday. His departure is part of an effort to unseat Sir Ed Davey as leader of the Liberal Democrats. Maynard is the second frontbench figure to step down this week, following the resignation of care and carers spokesperson Alison Bennett.
By the numbers
Party leadership response
Liberal Democrat deputy leader Daisy Cooper stated that the "vast majority" of the party's MPs support Sir Ed Davey and are frustrated by the resignation. Former party leader Tim Farron also expressed support for Davey, suggesting the party is well-positioned to maintain or improve upon its recent electoral success. Davey has led the party since 2019 and oversaw its performance in the 2024 general election, which resulted in the party securing 71 seats in the House of Commons.
Context of the resignation
Maynard’s resignation follows months of internal frustration regarding the party's visibility and performance in national opinion polls. While Davey has faced criticism from some, including Devon county council leader Julian Brazil, who suggested the party needs a fresh start, others within the party have publicly backed his leadership. Under party rules, a leadership contest can be initiated if a majority of the party's MPs pass a vote of no confidence.
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This article was independently rewritten by ManyPress editorial AI from reporting originally published by Guardian Politics (UK), BBC Politics.
