Lib Dem leader Ed Davey makes risky c-word joke in jab at Rishi Sunak during party conference finale speech
SIR Ed Davey risked sparking fury today as he suggested the Tories are c***s in a major speech to close Lib Dem conference in Bournemouth.
In a vulgar jab at Rishi Sunak, Sir Ed apologised for previously calling Conservative ministers “clowns”.
The party chief said clowns “took great offence at being compared to this Conservative Government”.
He then added: “I’m sorry.
“I used the wrong c-word.”
Sir Ed, who served in David Cameron’s coalition government, went on to compare the Tories to “a bad TV soap” with “shock exits and unwelcome returns”, where “each episode is worse than the last”.
“It’s time to change the channel,” he said.
“The corruption of Boris Johnson. The chaos of Liz Truss. The carelessness of Rishi Sunak.
“This whole Conservative shambles. They all have to go.”
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In his closing speech Sir Ed refused to rule out a post-election stitch-up with Sir Keir Starmer.
And he unveiled pledges on health, the economy and tying Britain closer to the EU in the event he enters government propping up Labour.
The party chief vowed to introduce a new legal right for cancer patients to start treatment within 62 days of an urgent referral.
And he pledged to replace ageing radiotherapy machines and increase their number, as well as widening access so no one has to travel far for treatment.
Sir Ed said: “Far too many people are still waiting, far too long for a diagnosis, or to start treatment after being diagnosed.
“I fervently hope we can build a consensus across politics to make cancer a top priority in the next Parliament.
“But as Leader of our party, I can at least promise you this: For Liberal Democrat MPs, it will be a top priority.”
Sir Ed also promised to drag Britain closer to Brussels bureaucrats.
He insisted he’d tear up the PM’s Brexit deal and “fix our broken relationship with Europe”.
“It’s up to us to lead the way,” Sir Ed said.
“A better economy. A better future. With Europe.”