WORLD · VERIFIED DEVELOPMENT
Liberal Democrats Face Pressure as UK Leaders Prepare for UN Summit and German Elections Falter
WHY IT MATTERS
The Liberal Democrats’ vulnerability, the PM’s UN engagement with Trump, and Merz’s electoral collapse illustrate shifting power balances that could reshape UK and German political landscapes and influence international policy discussions.
What happened
At a Brighton conference, Liberal Democrat delegates watched Sam Coates assess the strain on Sir Ed Davey’s party from a surge in support for the Greens and a resurgence of Andy Burnham’s movement. Meanwhile, the prime minister is set to travel to New York for the UN General Assembly, where he will meet former U.
S. president Donald Trump for the first time.
In Germany, Anne McElvoy reports that Friedrich Merz suffered a disastrous series of regional elections, a setback that mirrors the challenges faced by Sir Keir Starmer after the May 2026 national polls. These developments highlight a period of political recalibration across both sides of the Atlantic.
PRIMARY SOURCES
How can leaders on the ropes bounce back?
POLITICO Europe · Anne McElvoy, Sam Coates · Discovery only; POLITICO copyright and subscription terms apply