Ed Davey calls Tories ‘mutinous pirates’ in speech to Lib Dem conference

Party leader sets out no new policies in York but focuses on ‘community politics’ and proportional representation

The Conservatives are “a bunch of mutinous pirates” more interested in squabbling over self-advancement than helping the British people, Ed Davey has told the first in-person Liberal Democrat conference since he became leader more than three years ago.

In a speech setting out the party’s main arguments before May’s crucial local elections, and looking ahead to a general election expected next year, Davey focused almost all his fire on a Tory government he said had “reached the end of the road”.