Liberal Democrat leader Ed Davey says the NHS is ‘on its knees’ as he called for an emergency NHS budget immediately after next week’s election during a visit to north Shropshire.

During a typically colourful election visit in support of Lib Dem candidate Helen Morgan, Mr Davey described the Conservatives as a ‘failed government’ – and said a £1billion investment to address the crisis in the NHS and social care were his party’s top priorities going into next week’s election.

Mr Davey was addressing the media at Clivewood alpaca farm near Clive, the latest of a series of unusual press calls in an election campaign which has seen the Lib Dem leader tumbling off paddle-boards in Cumbria and free-wheeling down the streets of Powys on a bicycle.

“I think the way we’ve campaigned, which is a little bit different, I hope that says to people who are a bit disillusioned that we can take their concerns seriously, that can also have a bit of fun and hopefully engage with people,” he said.

A smiling Ed Davey with Pele the alpaca during a Liberal Democrat campaign visit to an alpaca farm near Clive, Shropshire on Thursday, June 27, 2024. (Mike Sheridan/LDRS).

“One of the things the Liberal Democrats have tried to do in this election is talk about the issues, the health system, the care system, the cost of living, the environment, and hopefully people can see that we get it – that we get their concerns and can offer some practical solutions.

“The NHS is on its knees and I think people recognise that are are really worried about it. In rural communities it’s been even worse, you see GPs retiring and not being replaced, that’s one of many reasons why the Liberal Democrats have made it our top priority.

A smiling Ed Davey with Pele the alpaca during a Liberal Democrat campaign visit to an alpaca farm near Clive, Shropshire on Thursday, June 27, 2024. (Mike Sheridan/LDRS).

“Whoever’s in charge we’re going to need an emergency health and care budget to begin this process, we can’t wait until the autumn, the crisis is here and now and we need to see big investment and change now, otherwise the winter crisis is going to be awful this winter.”

His party heads into next week’s election currently polling in fourth place overall behind the Labour, Conservative and Reform parties.

In North Shropshire, Helen Morgan is hoping to retain the seat she won in a 2021 by-election following the resignation of Conservative MP Owen Patterson.

Quizzed on the recent betting scandal which has seen the Conservative party withdraw support from two candidates including Montgomeryshire MP Craig Williams in the face of an investigation from the Gambling Commission, the Liberal Democrat leader also called for an independent review into betting regulations.

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“I’m worried about trust in politics on a whole set of levels,” he said.

“It appears, and that’s why the gambling commission are investigating, that they went and bet on something that they knew the outcome of and I think everyone can see that’s wrong.

“We need an urgent review when this is all over in a week’s time by the Government to see whether we need much clearer rules.

“From a Liberal Democrat point of view we would support all recommendations from such an independent review, whether that’s banning all betting or just clarifying the rules.”

“The Conservatives are a failed government and they’ll be a failed opposition. They’re arguing amongst themselves half the time and they’re so divided, and I think for our democracy we need a really strong party like the Liberal Democrats who’ll stand up for what people are worried about,” added Mr Davey.