Listening to Liberal Democrat Voters
As part of our party conference tour in partnership with the Centre for Justice Innovation — listening to voters of all stripes across the country — we hosted a discussion at the Liberal Democrat Party Conference in Bournemouth on 21 September 2025, exploring how we can find common ground on crime and justice.
Our fringe event, “Breaking Through the Noise: Finding Common Ground on Crime and Punishment,” was chaired by our co-founder Sam Boyd and featured Josh Babarinde OBE MP (Liberal Democrat Justice Spokesperson), Jacob Dunne, and Natasha Porter OBE, CEO of Unlocked Graduates.
The conversation focused on how to rebuild public trust in the justice system, move beyond polarised political debates, and find practical solutions that protect communities while reducing reoffending.
Video: Josh Babarinde OBE MP on finding common ground
In the discussion, Josh Babarinde MP, Liberal Democrat Justice Spokesperson, emphasised the importance of cross-party collaboration on justice reform:
“There has never been more of a need to find common ground in public policy — and justice policy especially.”
He warned that increasingly polarised political debates risk leading to simplistic solutions to complex problems:
“We’re seeing populists divide our communities and offer reductionist, over-simplistic solutions to very complex issues.”
Drawing on his experience both as a victim of crime and someone who has worked supporting young people away from offending, Babarinde argued that the goal of justice policy must ultimately be to reduce crime and victimhood.
Other speakers echoed the importance of listening and building relationships across divides.
Jacob Dunne, co-founder of the Common Ground Justice Project, reflected:
“The quality of our society depends on the quality of our relationships – not just within our communities or institutions, but across political and social divides.”
And Natasha Porter OBE, founder of Unlocked Graduates, highlighted the importance of engaging directly with the public:
“Too often policy is made without really hearing from the people who live with the consequences. Listening to communities – and building relationships with the people most affected – is how we create solutions that actually work.”
Across the discussion, speakers reflected on the importance of evidence, relationships and public engagement in shaping a justice system that keeps communities safe and commands public confidence.
Listening to voters and policymakers across political divides remains central to our work as we seek to uncover the common ground for a justice system that works.