London Playbook PM: Davey dances on

Good afternoon. This is Dan Bloom and Noah Keate in Brighton, with Mason Boycott-Owen in London.
— Liberal Democrat Leader Ed Davey Dad-danced out of an upbeat conference speech that went big on the NHS and social care.
— Scoop: A Lib Dem activist has been arrested and suspended from the party over allegations a woman was sexually assaulted at Glee Club.
— Dominic Cummings weighed in on frockgate, as ministers continue to bat away questions about Labour’s donations row.
— David Lammy and Ed Miliband made it a climate day in big speeches.
— More lines dropped from Keir Starmer’s Italy jaunt, roving over everything from winter fuel cuts to whether or not football can ever come home again.
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HOW TIMES CHANGE: Lib Dem Leader Ed Davey Dad-danced out of his conference speech to yellow confetti, dry ice and Sweet Caroline. But this afternoon’s most memorable image in Brighton will be his record crop of MPs — who strode on stage one by one with the dazzled jollity of athletes at an Olympic opening ceremony. It took some time. About 60 of the 72 sat grinning behind their leader, with more on the front row, as they and activists applauded themselves (literally). They’re not so, so sorry any more.
Strong message here: Reading the autocue closely and pacing the stage in his 48-minute closer, Davey said his party had lost its “liberal tradition of gritty, community politics.” Translation: Don’t get too comfortable, you’re door-knocking for the next five years.
The biggest local message … was the NHS, social care and home carers (as trailed), with activists shown that moving video of Davey talking about his son John, now 16. Officials have been showing off that it was one of the most-viewed videos from any party. “Even at 5.30 a.m. when he shouts ‘Daddy!’ to wake me up, it’s a blessing – given he was nine years old, when he was first able to say ‘Daddy,’” Davey told the hall. Transcript here.
Orange on red: The attack for Labour came over carers, who Davey said “weren’t mentioned once in Labour’s election manifesto” or in the king’s speech. Davey also said the government should back a youth mobility scheme with the EU … promised to take on its “defeatism” (as trailed) … and insisted the Lib Dems can gain ground not just in the southern blue wall but Liverpool, Sheffield and Newcastle.
But but but … It was hardly delivered with the vehemence with which Davey once again pledged to “finish the job” of knocking the Tories into third, and called their conference “The Great British Blame Off” or “Pointless.” The Lib Dem chief said he is “ready and willing to work with” PM Keir Starmer on a solution to issue of carers who were overpaid their allowances.
What the Lib Dems want to talk about: A “winterproof NHS taskforce” of staff representatives, chief medical officers, think tanks and the like. It would take the NHS’s £376 million-a-year average emergency spending each year, and instead pre-load four years’ worth (£1.504 billion) ring-fenced to “build resilience in hospital wards, A&E departments, ambulance services and patient discharging.” Aides confirm it’s not a promise of new money. It just reorders the existing spending.
Although … Davey didn’t technically mention the word “taskforce” or the sum of £1.5 billion in his speech. But hey, they briefed it so it happened, right?
What’s missing: The speech was big on vibes and hope and small on hard policy announcements. Little was head-turningly new. Perhaps unsurprising for a third party whose policies have little to no hope of becoming law, which is still doing its victory lap. Davey also didn’t mention Reform UK or its leader Nigel Farage once (h/t Christopher Hope).
The reviews are in: Tory chairman Richard Fuller said: “This confirms that Ed Davey will not hold this Labour government, his ‘pen pals’ to account. The Liberal Democrats are supposed to be an opposition party, but all their MPs do is agree with everything that Labour want to do.”
View inside the hall: The Brighton Center’s overpriced sandwiches sold out by 2 p.m. The hall was full, obv. Organizers got the crowd pumping with Vivaldi’s Concerto in C major R.558 “con molti strumenti.” Under blue-and-yellow lighting, activists got awards to the soundtrack of what sounded like 1980s game show music. “Hello, conference! How are you feeling!” said Treasurer Tilly McAuliffe, to the soundtrack of Queen’s Don’t Stop Me Now. “Knackered,” heckled one lone voice.
Name-checked: Davey singled out his “brilliant” field campaigns chief Dave McCobb, whose strategy of doubling target seats to 65 featured in Playbook Monday and today. He even suggested McCobb, in the front row, had his own book of the Bible.
No equivocation here: One big cheer was for Davey saying he’d “hope and pray” that Kamala Harris wins the U.S. presidential election. You can hear the tectonic plates moving Stateside from here.
Back-handed compliment: Davey gave what Playbook can only read as a drive-by on his “wonderful” wife Emily … pointing out to the hall that she failed four times to become an MP. “She’s an amazing local councillor now, amongst many other things,” he added. That’s better.
Tanks on Theresa May’s lawn: The Lib Dem leader gave the ex-PM a run for her money by dancing on stage to ABBA’s Take a Chance on Me. Her 20-something Lib Dem successor as MP for Maidenhead watched on.
Don’t have nightmares: Davey’s spokesperson admitted to hacks that he had seriously floated the idea of his leader putting his hand up a cow during the election campaign. The plan was thwarted only by health and safety rules, Davey told the hall. “Wing walking on a biplane” was in contention too.
CONFERENCE SCOOP: A Lib Dem activist has been arrested and suspended from the party over allegations that a woman was sexually assaulted at Glee Club — last night’s sing-a-long that closes the conference party scene each year. Private security staff escorted a man from Brighton’s Grand Hotel, where the event was being held, in the early hours on Tuesday. Dan Bloom’s full story is here.
Grim message: The incident is likely to reignite debate about the safety of attendees during party conference season. Critics of the U.K. parliament’s Independent Complaints and Grievance Scheme argue its remit should be expanded to include venues attended as part of people’s work — particularly conference.
Seeing orange: Around a dozen Lib Dem activists were heard chanting “Labour scum, off our streets” at the conference hotel. The Times’ Aubrey Allegretti got an audio clip.
As you like it: The Beeb has back stories of some new MPs, including South Cotswolds’ Roz Savage sailing across the Atlantic, Pacific, and Indian oceans … Tunbridge Wells’ Mike Martin serving in Afghanistan … and Stratford-upon-Avon’s Manuela Perteghella studying Shakespeare during her PhD. She said the best play to sum up Lib Dem conference was All’s Well That Ends Well. Much Ado About Nothing, surely?
SOME GET A KICK FROM CHAMPAGNE: Home Office Minister Angela Eagle was given quite the grilling by Times Radio’s Stig Abell on frockgate this morning (yes, we’re using frockgate now) as the whole row rumbles on. Keir Starmer was accused of having a “luxury glasses habit” funded by top donor Waheed Alli while “taking money from pensioners.” Ouch.
But I get a rise out of you: “Okay, you’ve had your rant,” harumphed Eagle in response, before promising to let Abel know if her constituents actually have a problem with Starmer’s declarations tussle.
Keep my wife’s name out of your mouth: The prime minister’s spokesperson meanwhile refused to answer questions about whether Victoria Starmer needs nice clothes to be paid for by donors because she has to represent the U.K. on the world stage. “I’m just not going to comment on the prime minister’s family,” the spokesperson said.
Dom speaks: Dominic Cummings waded into the whole affair a little earlier. He said Starmer’s handling of the donations row shows he is “roughly as good at politics as Sunak and Truss.” Cummings, the master of government comms and presentation forced out amid a series of *checks notes* comms and presentation disasters, said the government has “the air of a bunch of exhausted clueless hacks that usually takes years to acquire.”
Feed us, and make it snappy: Cummings also notes that Downing Street has no political story for “the reptiles” (presumably meaning lobby journalists) leaving the poor souls forced to focus on trivial stories. “The reptiles turn on the zoo keepers in absence of tasty snacks,” he adds. Always a pleasure to hear from you, Dom. 
NEST OF VIPERS: The prime minister’s spokesperson took issue today with a rather colorful suggestion from lobby colleagues that the mood in government is a bit of “nest of vipers” after a series of leaks. “I don’t recognize that,” the spokesperson said. Good to know!
VICTORY IN ONE-HORSE RACE: In the last couple of hours Labour announced that Hollie Ridley won the battle to become the party’s new general secretary. The party’s National Executive Committee concluded that she was “the outstanding candidate to succeed David Evans,” according to a release from the party. She was also the only candidate, but still, a win’s a win!
Another Labour gig: Labour Friends of Israel announced that Jon Pearce, a new intake-MP, is to become their new parliamentary chair after Steve McCabe stood down at the election. 
COME FLY WITH KEIR: More lines have been dropping from Starmer’s mid-air grilling by journalists on the plane back from Italy yesterday. The PM was unrepentant on his winter fuel allowance curbs, and admitted that not everyone will be protected by the changes. “There will always then be difficult cases, but, you know, in the current environment, we have to take difficult decisions,” he said.
DigiBlair: Starmer was also asked about yet another digital idea from up-and-coming tech whizz kid Tony Blair. Digital ID cards, which, by-and-large, people hated when the ex-PM tried to do it and are still pretty unpopular now, are not being explicitly ruled out by the U.K.’s current leader. Starmer told traveling hacks “we’re not looking at plans for ID cards” — but acknowledged that there is a need to stop people coming to the U.K. and dropping off the grid to work in the black economy.
ASSISTED DYING: Asked about whether there will be a vote on assisted dying before Christmas, Starmer repeated his commitment to Esther Rantzen that he would make time for a private members’ bill on the matter, with a free vote in the Commons. “We won’t block it,” he said, adding that “In principle, I think there’s a case to be made for changing the law,” but said he wants to make sure safeguards will be put in place. 
Drive on or go slow? Playbook’s Dan Bloom picks up a little skepticism among campaigners and backbenchers about reports a vote could be held pre-Christmas. MPs still haven’t agreed who will lead a bill, though it looks increasingly likely to be Labour’s Jake Richards. Colleagues of the two Lib Dems ahead of him reckon they won’t do it. 
The next battle: Aside from pro v. anti, the defining issue will be what safeguards, exactly, to put in the bill. Two people tell Dan that Richards is gravitating to a proposal by Dignity in Dying, which would allow assisted dying for people who are terminally ill with six months to live. This is more limited than a rival proposal by Humanists UK, which would allow it for people who are terminally ill and suffering intolerably. This sort of detail will be key to deciding how far MPs back the bill at the first hurdle, and how far they — or the bill itself — compromise in committee stage. 
Sweet harmony: In an example of just how cross-party this issue will be, Dan hears Reform UK MP Richard Tice is one of those who has got in touch with Richards to work with him. The pair are due to meet soon. 
REFUSED TO RULE OUT FOOTBALL COMING HOME: The PM’s spokesperson was asked about reports England could be banned from the Euros it is hosting because of UEFA’s concerns about overreach by the “independent” football regulator. The spokesperson said “we’re very happy to speak to UEFA” but it is “not our understanding or expectation” that there will be issues. The watchdog “is independent of government,” they said, despite proposed powers to force clubs to make decisions aligned with the government’s “trade and foreign policy objectives.” 
These dudes have already come home: Starmer is this afternoon hosting Team GB athletes from the Olympic and Paralympic games in Downing Street.
BAD NEWS ON BILLS: The global energy crisis “is not over” and energy bills are set to rise again this winter, Energy Secretary Ed Miliband told an event in London this morning. POLITICO’s ace energy and climate team messages in to say that this line is somewhat at odds with Labour’s pre-election promises to bring bills down by 300 quid a year over the parliament. They note that particular pledge was missing from Miliband’s speech. 
Frenemies: Miliband says getting more solar farms and wind turbines online will solve the problem in the long-term. Shadow Energy Secretary Claire Coutinho, who did Miliband’s job until the general election, told the same event that rushing to approve loads of green schemes will “overload” the energy grid and force costs even higher.
U-turn alert: Another pledge has now become an “ambition” after Foreign Secretary David Lammy rowed back on the Tories £12 billion to tackle global climate change during his speech today. “Ahead of the spending review, they’re carefully reviewing our plans to do so,” he said of the plan, putting the ball firmly in Rachel Reeves’ court. 
TODAY’S PAPERS TOMORROW: Big news in media land. The Observer, the Guardian’s Sunday sister paper, might soon be bought up by media start-up Tortoise. Sky’s Mark Kleinman got the scoop, naturally, with the Guardian following later. Tortoise has made, and took its name from, so-called “slow news” with more in-depth coverage as opposed to your usual breaking news.
TASKFORCE, ASSEMBLE: Labour’s “New Towns Taskforce” met for the first time today in Milton Keynes, made up of key movers and shakers in the planning and infrastructure world. Officials said the group will now set about identifying where all these new towns will be built and will send its report back to ministers next year. 
YOU’VE BEEN WARNED: Labour MPs were warned today not to, er, enjoy themselves too much at party conference for fear of journalists catching wind, my colleague Esther Webber hears. Party whips told the newly strengthened Labour ranks that it’s not just lobby hacks MPs should be wary of but Tory spies who might leave secret mics in plant pots, which kind of makes the whole thing sound a bit more exciting than it really is.
**Tune in to the climate policy chatter during party conference season. As the U.K.’s political parties gather to discuss their priorities, energy policy could be part of the conversation – and you shouldn’t be missing out. Get insights from our London newsroom in our exclusive POLITICO Pro Debrief on September 18. Sign up here.**
MIDDLE EAST LATEST: More than 1,000 people — including Hezbollah fighters and medics — were wounded when the pagers they used to communicate exploded across Lebanon. A Hezbollah official told Reuters the detonation of the pagers was the “biggest security breach” the group had been subjected to in nearly a year of war with Israel.
IN BRUSSELS: European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen unveiled her new commission after weeks of waiting. My colleagues analyzed five takeaways from her picks, and suggest it’s bad news for Russian President Vladimir Putin due to Ukraine allies getting key positions while von der Leyen gets to retain control over the budget. A full list of commissioners is here.
Channeling Starmer: The Commission will recommend EU countries consider extending smoking bans to cover children’s play areas, outdoor pools and amusement parks, according to a document obtained by my colleague Mari Eccles.
IN CANADA: Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is facing growing pressure to stand down after his Liberal Party lost a Montreal stronghold in a by-election, marking the second consecutive defeat for him. Trudeau says he has no plans to resign despite the Liberals trailing the Conservative Party by a wide margin for the past year — more from my Canadian colleagues.
IN PORTUGAL: At least four people died and 40 have been injured in forest fires as more than 5,000 firefighters struggle to bring 107 active fires under control. Authorities on the ground said the situation was “very difficult” — via the Times.
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LEADING THE NEWS BULLETINS: Channel 5 News (5 p.m.) leads on Kyle Clifford being charged with murdering three women in July … BBC News at Six focuses on Glasgow hosting the Commonwealth Games in 2026 … Channel 4 News (7 p.m.) leads on Foreign Secretary David Lammy and Energy Secretary Ed Miliband‘s speeches about the climate.
Tom Swarbrick at Drive (LBC, until 6 p.m.): Former Department for Business official Adam Bell (5.05 p.m.).
Drive with John Pienaar (Times Radio, until 7 p.m.): Former Tory MPs Damian Collins and Robert Halfon … commentator Tim Montgomerie and the New Statesman’s Rachel Cunliffe (from 6 p.m.).
BBC PM (Radio 4, 5 p.m.): Lib Dem MP Helen Morgan.
Sky News Daily (Podcast, drops at 5 p.m.): Former Lib Dem Leader Tim Farron … Lib Dem MPs Layla Moran and Calum Miller.
Tonight With Andrew Marr (LBC, 6 p.m.): Lib Dem MP Munira Wilson.
Iain Dale (LBC, 7 p.m.): Former Defense Secretary Grant Shapps phone-in (7-8 p.m.) … Tory leadership contender Tom Tugendhat phone-in (9-10 p.m.).
Politics Hub with Sophy Ridge (Sky News, 7 p.m.): Former Labour adviser Andrew Fisher.
Cross Question with Iain Dale (LBC, 8 p.m.): Labour peer Margaret Hodge … former Tory MP Theresa Villiers … former Downing Street Director of Communications Guto Harri … former Labour PPC Jovan Owusu-Nepaul.
Newsnight (BBC 2, 10.30 p.m.): Former Lib Dem Leader Jo Swinson … Labour peer Charlie Falconer.
TWEETING TOMORROW’S PAPERS TONIGHT: Jack Surfleet.
REVIEWING THE PAPERS TONIGHT: Times Radio (10.30 p.m.): Former Lib Dem adviser Jo Phillips and PoliticsHome’s Alain Tolhurst … Sky News (10.30 p.m. and 11.30 p.m.): Journalist Jenny Kleeman and broadcaster Ali Miraj.
ECONOMY: Latest inflation statistics drop at 7 a.m.
HOW TIME FLIES: It’s 10 years since the Scottish independence referendum tomorrow.
REPUBLICANS: Donald Trump speaks at a rally in New York.
ON THIS DAY IN POLITICS: On this day in 2014, ex-Prime Minister Gordon Brown addressed a final Better Together rally the day before the Scottish independence referendum.
WRITING PLAYBOOK TOMORROW MORNING: Sam Blewett.
THANKS TO: My editor Matt Honeycombe-Foster, reporter Noah Keate and the POLITICO production team for making it look nice.
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