Wendy Chamberlain belting out an ‘Ode to Liz Truss’ at Glee Club perfectly encapsulated this year’s Lib Dem Conference. To a packed room of die-hard members, horrified first-time attendees (including your author) and a large pack of lobby journalists, the Lib Dems’ Chief Whip asked the mostly cheering audience to Lettuce Be…

So, lettuce be honest – the mood throughout Conference was jubilant. Many of the party’s new MPs were clearly revelling in the spotlight after winning the truss-t (I’m sorry) of their constituents in dozens of former Conservative seats. The dramatic change in electoral fortunes saw a bumper turnout in Brighton of members, national journalists and business representatives – with many of the latter attending their first Lib Dem Conference. Indeed, some attendees were even observed circling events asking anyone dressed smartly if they were a new MP.

The Lib Dems deployed a ruthlessly efficient and effective election campaign, targeting seats instead of votes. Candidates focussed on just a few core policy issues which successfully tapped into the public’s exhaustion with the Conservative Government – specifically health and social care, and sewage. But now, despite returning a record number of MPs, the party faces some fundamental questions on its future direction.

How will it maximise its new cohort of MPs? How will it shift from attacking the Conservatives? What sort of opposition will it present to Labour? What other policy issues will it focus on? Will the leadership finally give the membership what it wants and campaign more vocally on the UK’s relationship with the EU?

All the while, it will still have to consolidate the 59 seats it took from the Conservatives – and target even more. Next May’s local elections will be the first true test of its response, as all 21 county councils are up for grabs.

Sir Ed Davey sought to address some of these questions during his address to conference. He urged his party to “finish the job” of consigning the Conservatives to the history books, and suggested his party will be “careful scrutineers” of the Labour Government. He also received rapturous applause for urging Sir Keir Starmer to be more ambitious on Europe – perhaps a sign of things to come.

All of a sudden, public affairs teams will be considering how they engage with the largest third party in over 100 years. Navigating its various quirks – like its truly democratic and complex policy making process – and engaging a brand-new team of spokespeople will require a well-considered and targeted strategy.

To help you out, we’ve picked out five Lib Dems to watch out for, including key players, policy experts and future stars…

Wendy Chamberlain, MP for North East Fife and Chief Whip

Karaoke talents aside, Chamberlain has steadily risen up the ranks of the party since her election in 2019. From patrolling the streets of Fife to keeping Lib Dem MPs in check – Chamberlain served in the police force for over a decade before entering politics. She joined the Liberal Democrats in the aftermath of the 2015 UK General Election, at the party’s lowest ebb. Fast forward nine years, and she comfortably defended her seat with an increased majority in 2024. She is one of the Liberal Democrats’ trusted media performers and is likely to be one of the party’s public faces in the new term. She also plays the Scottish traditional sport of shinty, enjoying a game with Ed Davey on the campaign trail in one of his tamer election stunts!

Calum Miller, MP for Bicester and Woodstock and Foreign Affairs Spokesperson

The race for Bicester and Woodstock came down to two former colleagues. Former adviser to Nick Clegg and Liberal Democrat candidate, Miller narrowly edged Conservative Rupert Harrison, a former adviser to Chancellor George Osborne. After leaving Government, Miller held a series of senior civil service roles, before joining Oxford University as a senior fellow. Miller is trusted and respected by the Lib Dem leadership, not least for his rare experience in government. He was rewarded with the Foreign Affairs brief in this week’s reshuffle.

Helen Morgan, MP for North Shropshire and Health Spokesperson

Morgan shot into the national spotlight for, quite literally, bursting Boris’ bubble in December 2021. She overturned a historic majority of almost 23,000 votes from the Conservatives in the North Shropshire by-election and was an early pioneer of the Lib Dems’ election victory stunts. Her profile has steadily risen since, and she was a regular representative on national media during the 2024 election campaign. This week she was appointed Health spokesperson – a hugely important role in one of the party’s core policy areas and a major show of trust from the leadership.

Josh Babarinde OBE, MP for Eastbourne and Justice Spokesperson

Is there anything Josh Babarinde can’t do? Create a leading social enterprise, check. Forbes 30 under 30, check. Awarded an OBE for services to criminal justice, check. In July, he won back his home town seat of Eastbourne for the party from the Conservatives (and his former primary school teacher!). For the past two years, Babarinde has helped lead the Lib Dem campaign to tackle sewage spills, appearing regularly on national and regional media. He is also to blame for pushing Ed Davey off a different paddleboard at last year’s Conference! Josh is perhaps already a star in Lib Dem circles. But at just 31, he represents the party’s next generation, and is certainly one to watch as a national figure.

Baroness Pidgeon MBE, Liberal Democrat Peer

Caroline Pidgeon is no stranger to front-line politics. She was first elected as a Liberal Democrat councillor in the 1998 local election, and stood down as a London Assembly Member in 2024. Pidgeon is a true transport policy expert, having chaired the London Assembly’s Transport Committee and led multiple campaigns, including to make the Elizabeth Line level boarding. On the day of this year’s election, she was appointed to the House of Lords, and will be an important figure on all issues London and transport.

If you have any questions about engaging with the Liberal Democrats, please contact Alexis King: alexis.king@grayling.com