Lib Dems are being too cautious, say senior party members

One signatory said the letter was not intended as a direct attack on Ed Davey, who has overseen a string of dramatic byelection victories. Photograph: Ben Birchall/PA

A group of senior Liberal Democrats has warned that the party under Ed Davey is being too cautious and needs to properly explain to voters what it actually stands for before the general election.

In a rare expression of open dissent within the Lib Dems, 30 senior members, including a Lords frontbencher and eight members of the party’s policy committee, said there was a need to be bolder in areas including Brexit, human rights and the environment.