Julian Brazil, leader of Devon County Council, has publicly criticised the leadership of the Liberal Democrats, telling the BBC that party leader Sir Ed Davey is not the right person to lead the party and that the Lib Dems are "sleepwalking to irrelevance" under his stewardship.
Brazil's comments mark a notable rebuke from a senior local politician within the party ranks. As leader of one of the country's county councils, his intervention highlights dissent beyond the national parliamentary caucus and adds to scrutiny of the party's direction and leadership.
The remarks were made in an interview with the BBC in which Brazil set out his view that the party's current trajectory under Davey risks diminishing its political influence. He said that having the right leadership is crucial to arrest what he described as a slide towards irrelevance.
The criticism underscores internal debate about strategy and leadership within the Liberal Democrats at a time when parties across the UK are grappling with public confidence and electoral challenges. Brazil's comments are likely to prompt further discussion among party members and elected representatives about future direction and leadership choices.