Daisy Cooper, the Liberal Democrats' deputy leader, used her party conference speech to set out a two-pronged pitch aimed at boosting the UK's economic performance and deepening ties with Europe.
Cooper said the party would seek to end what she described as a "computer says no" economy — a critique of what the Lib Dems characterise as an overly rigid, rules-driven system that stifles enterprise and inhibits growth. She framed reform of bureaucracy and decision-making as central to unlocking higher productivity and wider economic expansion.
As part of that agenda, Cooper proposed the creation of a Growth and Defence Partnership with the European Union. She presented the idea as a means of combining economic cooperation with closer security and defence collaboration, arguing that the two areas should be pursued together to strengthen national resilience and prosperity.
The speech is the latest attempt by the party to position itself on economic management and international relations, emphasising pro-growth policies alongside a pragmatic approach to working with European partners. The proposal signals the Lib Dems' intent to contrast their priorities with those of other parties by stressing both business-friendly reforms and deeper cross-channel cooperation.
Party officials said the measures announced in the speech would form part of the Lib Dems' broader platform going into future political contests, though Cooper did not set out detailed legislation or timelines for implementation in her remarks.