Young former Conservatives join Lib Dems, launch One Nation Liberals

Cody Butler, 21, and Josh Bancroft, 26, joined the Liberal Democrats in September 2026 after leaving the Conservatives and appeared at its Brighton conference. They are starting the One Nation Liberals. Butler left the Tories in July after leader Kemi Badenoch barred supporters of net zero, ending carbon emissions, and the European Convention on Human Rights from standing as candidates.