Overview

• Ed Davey vowed to close asylum hotels and "stop the boats" by accelerating decisions, deporting those without a right to stay, and letting approved claimants work.
• The party framed its stance as tough but humane, presenting itself as a patriotic alternative as Davey said Nigel Farage "is not a patriot" for running down the UK.
• Lib Dem strategists moved to expand their target list by dozens of seats, largely Conservative-held, seeking votes from disillusioned Tories and Labour supporters.
• Local demonstrations outside Bournemouth’s Roundhouse Hotel housing asylum seekers underscored public anger that could challenge the party’s outreach on migration.
• Home affairs plans included reintroducing visible police desks in community hubs funded by scrapping police and crime commissioners, as Davey also criticized broadcasters for amplifying Farage.