Labour will be “held to account” by the Liberal Democrats as the party hopes to “consign the Conservatives to the history books”, Sir Ed Davey said on Tuesday.
The Lib Dem leader, whose party won a record 72 MPs at the general election, promised to be “bolder” to force an end the sewage scandal, and tackle the crisis in the justice system and NHS.
During his keynote speech at the Lib Dem conference in Brighton, he accused Labour of "pessimism and defeatism", while vowing to "cut through the doom and gloom".
Sir Ed said: “We will use our strength – as not only once again the third party in the House of Commons but also the largest third party in a century – to be the responsible opposition to this Government.
“And to speak up for people in our communities – taken for granted and ignored by the others.
“Telling Ministers directly about the problems real people are facing. Raising the issues that would otherwise go unnoticed in the Government’s blindspots.
“Holding Labour to account for the promises they made to clear up the Conservatives’ mess.
“Championing practical, hopeful solutions for a better future.
“Not just on health and care, but the cost of living, sewage, nature and the climate. The crisis in our justice system: Prisons bursting at the seams. Criminals walking free. Victims denied justice.
“From growing our economy, to fixing our NHS, to reforming our politics – we will urge the Government to act faster and be much bolder.”
The Lib Dems defeated a raft of Tory MPs on July 4 with a carefully curated election battle plan that targeted “blue wall” seats and included a number of eye-catching media stunts.
Constituencies held by then Education Secretary Gillian Keegan, Justice Secretary Alex Chalk, Science Secretary Michelle Donelan and Culture Secretary Lucy Frazer all fell to the Lib Dems.
The party also picked up the seats of former prime ministers David Cameron and Theresa May.
A spokesman for the Lib Dem leader said “most of the seats” the party will be targeting at the next election are “Conservative facing” and they want to prove themselves to voters by being a “better opposition” than the Tories.
Sir Ed is due to accuse the Tory party of "scraping the bottom of the barrel" with the remaining Tory leadership candidates - Tom Tugendhat, James Cleverly, Kemi Badenoch and Robert Jenrick.
Bringing the four-day party conference to an end, Sir Ed is expected to tell delegates: “Our job is to consign the Conservative Party to the history books.
“We said we would bring the Blue Wall tumbling down. And we did.
“We did it by speaking to millions of lifelong Conservative voters, who felt let down and taken for granted by today’s Conservative Party.
“Voters who believe in the fundamental British values of fairness, decency, freedom, and respect for the rule of law –
“And who no longer see those values reflected in the party of Boris Johnson and Liz Truss –
“But who found those values strong in the Liberal Democrats.
“On July 4 we made a great start. But now let’s go further.
“Let’s finish the job.”
