Lib Dems sleepwalking to irrelevance

A Lib Dems council leader has said the party is 'sleepwalking into irrelevance' and questioned whether Sir Ed Davey was the right leader.

Julian Brazil, the leader of Devon County Council, told the BBC that the party was lacking ambition and not saying things people can relate to.

He added: 'I think there is a fantastic opportunity now for us to be right in the middle of politics and we don't seem to be. '

Brazil became leader of Devon County Council in May last year after the Lib Dems overtook the Tories to become the largest party, but without overall control.

'We're lacking ambition, we're lacking courage of our convictions,' he said. 'We're not saying things that people can relate to. '

He questioned whether Sir Ed Davey was the right leader for the party, telling the BBC 'I wish he was' but 'all the evidence is no'.

A Lib Dem spokesperson said the party was in an incredibly strong position under Sir Ed's leadership because he was focused on issues that really matter.

'We had our best result for a century, and achieved a record breaking streak of remarkable local election results,' they added.

Devon County Council leader Julian Brazil has questioned whether Sir Ed Davey was the right leader for the party, saying they are 'sleepwalking into irrelevance' and lacking ambition.