Editing Ed Davey (section)

=== 2024 general election campaign stunts and seat victories ===
{{Main|2024 United Kingdom general election}}{{Blockquote|text=This general election is a chance to kick Rishi Sunak’s appalling Conservative government out of office and deliver the change the public is crying out for. For years the Conservative Party has taken voters for granted and lurched from crisis to crisis while the problems facing the country are getting so much worse. Every vote for the Liberal Democrats at this election is a vote for a strong local champion who will stand up for your community and health services. It’s clear that in many seats across the country, the best way to beat the Conservatives is to vote for the Liberal Democrats.|author=Ed Davey after the general election was called, May 2024}}
[[File:Prime Minister's Questions, 24 July 2024 26.jpg|thumb|Davey speaking during [[Prime Minister's Questions]], 24 July 2024]]
Davey led his party in the [[2024 United Kingdom general election|2024 general election]], and was noted, with praise and criticism, for his campaign stunts.<ref>{{cite web |date=31 May 2024 |title=Lib Dems aim to grab attention with campaign stunts |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c844p844eqxo |access-date=31 May 2024 |website=BBC News |archive-date=15 June 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240615124843/https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c844p844eqxo |url-status=live }}</ref> When visiting [[Windermere]], Davey fell off his [[Paddleboarding|paddleboard]], whilst campaigning to highlight the political issue of [[sewage discharge in the United Kingdom]].<ref>{{cite news |last=Rawlinson |first=Kevin |date=28 May 2024 |title=Stunts, sewage and serious messaging: Lib Dems hope to capitalise on outrage at water pollution |url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/article/2024/may/28/stunts-sewage-and-serious-messaging-lib-dems-hope-to-capitalise-on-outrage-at-water-pollution |access-date=1 June 2024 |work=The Guardian |issn=0261-3077 |archive-date=15 June 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240615124843/https://www.theguardian.com/politics/article/2024/may/28/stunts-sewage-and-serious-messaging-lib-dems-hope-to-capitalise-on-outrage-at-water-pollution |url-status=live }}</ref> A couple of days later, Davey won high-profile media attention when going down a [[Slip 'N Slide]], whilst drawing attention to deteriorating [[Mental health in the United Kingdom#Children and adolescents|mental health among children]]. When visiting [[Eastbourne (UK Parliament constituency)|Eastbourne]], Davey did a bungee jump, asking people to "take the plunge" and vote Liberal Democrat.<ref>{{cite web |date=1 July 2024 |title=Lib Dems plunge head first into final week of campaign |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cp6871w1lzko |access-date=1 July 2024 |website=BBC News |archive-date=3 July 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240703010919/https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cp6871w1lzko |url-status=live }}</ref> When asked about these stunts, Davey said: "Politicians need to take the concerns and interests of voters seriously but I'm not sure they need to take themselves seriously all the time and I'm quite happy to have some fun".<ref>{{cite AV media |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/tv/news/ed-davey-stunt-lib-dems-election-b2554371.html |title=Ed Davey rides rubber ring on waterslide as Lib Dems campaign about children's mental health |date=31 May 2024 |last=Patrick |first=Holly |access-date=1 June 2024 |via=www.independent.co.uk |archive-date=1 June 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240601145443/https://www.independent.co.uk/tv/news/ed-davey-stunt-lib-dems-election-b2554371.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

Davey also spoke on his experience as a carer both for his mother when he was a child, and contemporarily for his son. This included an election broadcast focusing on his caring responsibilities, with Davey stating that the Liberal Democrat manifesto put health and care at the centre.<ref>{{cite web |title=Sir Ed Davey: We felt we had a duty to talk about caring for our disabled son |url=https://news.sky.com/story/sir-ed-davey-we-felt-we-had-a-duty-to-talk-about-caring-for-our-disabled-son-13158142 |access-date=1 January 2025 |website=Sky News }}</ref>

On 10 June 2024, Davey launched the Liberal Democrat [[manifesto]], titled ''[[For a Fair Deal]]'', in London.<ref>{{cite web |date=10 June 2024 |title=General Election 2024: A quick take on the Lib Dem's manifesto |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/videos/ce44z03r3e3o |access-date=10 June 2024 |website=BBC News }}</ref> He stressed that the Lib Dems are a "pro-European party"; the manifesto includes a promise for the UK to rejoin the [[European single market]].<ref>{{cite web |date=10 June 2024 |title=Ed Davey says Lib Dems would fight for UK to rejoin EU and one day overturn Brexit |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/ed-davey-lib-dem-general-election-eu-b2559865.html |access-date=10 June 2024 |website=The Independent |archive-date=10 June 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240610144025/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/ed-davey-lib-dem-general-election-eu-b2559865.html |url-status=live }}</ref> Midway through the campaign, opinion pollsters [[YouGov]] found that 35% of Liberal Democrat voters did not recognise a photograph of Davey.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://yougov.co.uk/politics/articles/49836-one-in-three-lib-dem-voters-dont-recognise-ed-davey |title=One in three Lib Dem voters don't recognise Ed Davey |website=YouGov |date=22 June 2024 |access-date=22 June 2024 |archive-date=1 July 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240701154635/https://yougov.co.uk/politics/articles/49836-one-in-three-lib-dem-voters-dont-recognise-ed-davey |url-status=live }}</ref> Amid the [[2024 United Kingdom general election betting scandal|general election betting scandal]], Davey, whilst admitting that he had previously bet on the outcome of elections, called for a review of gambling laws.<ref name="h771">{{cite web |last=Whannel |first=Kate |date=26 June 2024 |title=Ed Davey calls for gambling law review after election bet row |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cjll6dg48xno |access-date=26 June 2024 |website=BBC News |archive-date=26 June 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240626133722/https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cjll6dg48xno |url-status=live }}</ref>

Davey led his party to both their highest ever number of seats and the highest number of seats for a third party since [[1923 United Kingdom general election|1923]], restoring the Liberal Democrats as the third largest party in the House of Commons.<ref>{{cite web |last=Henry |first=Charlotte |date=5 July 2024 |title=Why the Lib Dems did so well |url=https://www.spectator.co.uk/article/why-the-lib-dems-did-so-well/ |access-date=6 July 2024 |website=The Spectator }}</ref> He celebrated by singing [[Neil Diamond]]'s "[[Sweet Caroline]]" at a Liberal Democrat party.<ref>{{cite news |last=X {{!}} @EllieSwintonITV |first=Source |date=5 July 2024 |title=Ed Davey sings Sweet Caroline as Lib Dems celebrate historic election – video |url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/video/2024/jul/05/ed-davey-sings-sweet-caroline-as-lib-dems-celebrate-historic-election-performance-video |access-date=11 July 2024 |work=The Guardian |issn=0261-3077}}</ref> This also makes Davey able to ask two questions to the prime minister each week at [[Prime Minister's Questions]], the first Liberal Democrat leader to do so since Nick Clegg in 2010. Davey said he was humbled by the results, and jokingly said: "I've rather enjoyed this campaign".<ref>{{cite web |date=5 July 2024 |title=Sir Ed Davey hails 'record-breaking' night for Liberal Democrats |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c51y2z7jdz9o |access-date=6 July 2024 |website=BBC News }}</ref> He retained Kingston and Surbiton for the Liberal Democrats at the election, with an increased majority.