Lib Dem leader Ed Davey speaks ahead of Brighton conference

The Liberal Democrat leader said he wanted the newly elected representatives to be focused on “getting results for constituents” but conceded the party would struggle to win votes in the House of Commons when it comes to opposing Labour policies.

The party, which secured its best General Election result for generations in July, is holding its Autumn conference in Brighton – and will “have some fun”.

Speaking ahead of the conference, Mr Davey said that he did not want the Lib Dems to get involved in "yah boo politics" where politicians are dismissive of each other.

He said: “Our MPs are mustard keen and will work super hard for their constituents.

“Five MPs across Sussex is quite something and they will be great local champions.

“How you do opposition will matter.

“All opposition parties will not be able to win votes easily, that’s a mathematical fact, but if you opposition well you can win arguments and change things."

Ed Davey feeding chickens with James MacCleary, new MP for Lewes (Image: PA)The Lib Dems overturned a number of marginal Conservative seats in the General Election as well as winning some seats the party did not have on their radar.

The party now has five MPs in Sussex - Josh Babarinde in Eastbourne, James MacClearly in Lewes, Alison Bennett in Mid Sussex, Jess Brown-Fuller in Chichester and John Milne in Horsham.

Mr Davey said the MPs had already been working on their own specific priorities, including a new hospital in Eastbourne, train prices and sewage issues.

He described sewage as a “big issue for Liberal Democrats” and one that affects coastal constituencies in Sussex.

He added: “The symbolic issue around it became the appalling sewage in our rivers and seas.

“Sussex is a classic area where improvements would have massive benefits.

“In Chichester it’s linked into tourism and business. In Eastbourne businesses need to know that beaches are clean.”

Ed Davey doing a bungee jump in Eastbourne during the General Election campaign (Image: PA)Mr Davey also cited the health service as a major concern and something that his party would push the new government to change.

He added constituents were “really, really alarmed about not being able to get GP appointments and NHS dentists” – adding the changes would have “massive economic impacts too”.

Mr Davey stressed that his party’s approach was to “not compartmentalise” the issues facing the country – adding he thought that fixing the sewage issue and the healthcare sector would have their own knock-on effects on the county.

Reflecting on Brighton, Mr Davey described the city as “just wonderful” having visited for Lib Dem conferences in the past.

Mr Davey was secretary of state for energy in the Tory-Lib Dem coalition government which agreed the wind farm off Sussex.

He said: “I have been coming here for a long time. I think my first conference here was 1989 or 1990. It’s always a warm welcome from restaurants and hotels.

“I can wave to the wind farms that I signed the contracts for.”

The Liberal Democrat Autumn Conference takes place at the Brighton Centre from today,  Saturday September 14 to September 17.