Skip to main content

Jane Dodds' conference speech

 

 




I want to take you back to May 1999, and the first-ever elections to the then Welsh Assembly. 

Almost 600 years after the first Welsh Parliament was established in June 1404, the people of Wales once again had its own national democratic institution.

Wales was entering a new dawn – an opportunity to meaningfully hand power to people, to communities, away from the corridors of power.

It was an opportunity to cast off the dust and to set about creating our own destiny here in Wales. 

Our job here in Wales is made all the more difficult by Conservatives in Westminster and their assault on devolution and our national parliament.

But that quiet earthquake in 1999 has passed many people in Wales by. 22 years on and that radical, reforming streak that ushered in a new era has, in too many ways, been replaced by a steady incrementalism, slow to move when the world is hurtling on.

Now, granted, even after 1999 Wales operated with two hands tied behind its back and we don’t yet have all the tools we need to shape a fairer, greener, more liberal Wales. And our job here in Wales is made all the more difficult by Conservatives in Westminster and their assault on devolution and our national parliament.

It is our job, as liberals, and my job as the leader of the Welsh Liberal Democrats, to make the case for a new relationship between people and parliament and between the nations of the United Kingdom.

We need to rediscover our radical, progressive voice and offer new and inspiring ideas – and we have work to do. 

In Wales:

Child poverty is rising.

In work, poverty is rising.

Household income lags behind that of our neighbours.

We’ve seen slower progress in reducing emissions than the rest of the UK.

It is our job to make the case for a new relationship between people and parliament and between the nations of the United Kingdom.

1 in 14 species is heading for extinction.

We need new ideas and a new way of doing politics that will propel Wales into the future. We need liberal solutions which offer hope, optimism, and opportunity to all to shape their own destiny. 

Fundamentally, we need to capture the imagination of ordinary people about what politics can achieve.

I believe it is our job to bring back that radical streak to Welsh politics; the radical tradition of liberals down the ages. The Chartists, Cymru Fydd, Dic Penderyn, The Rebecca Rioters. Non-conformist, unrelenting, unwilling to accept things as they were.

Welsh politics and democracy need to change gear - to bring forward the ideas that shape a new promise for the next generation. A promise that each and every one of us - and our planet - can thrive. A Wales that creates opportunity, supports talent and aspiration and creates a fairer, greener economy. 

Wales and our party owe Kirsty Williams a huge amount. 

I may be a single Welsh Liberal Democrat in the Senedd but mark my words, we’re going to be heard.   

But there has been one consistent reforming voice in the Senedd since 1999, and that was Kirsty Williams. 

Kirsty stood down at the election in May after 22 years on the frontline of Welsh politics representing Brecon and Radnorshire. Wales and our party owe Kirsty a huge amount. 

From the campaign to first establish the National Assembly for Wales, to being the first-ever female leader of a Welsh political party in 2008, establishing the Welsh Pupil Premium, driving the integration of health, care, and housing, leading legislation on safe nurse staffing levels on hospital wards, to leading the greatest education reforms in Wales since the second world war, Kirsty has inspired and enthused – and changed the life chances of - a generation.

I cannot thank Kirsty enough for what she has done for our party, for our country, and the support she has shown me and so many others. Diolch a phob dymuniad da ar gyfer y dyfodol, Kirsty.

 

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Jo Swinson: Serious talks on Lib Dem-Plaid election pact

The Wales BBC Report : The Liberal Democrats are "seriously in discussions" with Plaid Cymru to agree a pact at the next general election, Lib Dem leader Jo Swinson has said. A poll is expected before Christmas because Boris Johnson's government has no majority in the House of Commons. The Liberal Democrats won the recent Brecon and Radnorshire by-election after Plaid agreed not to stand.  Opposition MPs have twice rejected the government's attempts to trigger a general election, insisting they want to ensure the UK does not leave the EU without a deal at the end of October before they vote for an election. Conservative m Asked how that was progressing, Ms Swinson told BBC Sunday Politics Wales: "There are constructive discussions underway…but those discussions will take their course and announcements will be made as that happens." Speaking ahead of her party's autumn conference, beginning in Bournemouth this weekend, the Lib Dem leade...

Significant Gaps Remain in Welsh Government Building Safety Announcement

  The Welsh Liberal Democrats have welcomed progress announced today in the Welsh Government’s building safety announcement but have warned significant gaps remain. Welsh Liberal Democrat Leader Jane Dodds MS and Cardiff Liberal Democrat Group Leader Cllr Rhys Taylor addressing building saftey campaigners.   The announcement given by Environment Minister Julie James MS confirmed that 9 property developers have now signed up to the Welsh Government’s “Developers Pact” agreeing in theory their responsibility to remediate buildings they constructed with safety defects.   The announcement follows a lengthy campaign by leaseholders in the five years since the Grenfell Tower Disaster.   However, three major developers are still yet to reply.   The Welsh Liberal Democrats have stated that due to the Welsh Government’s failure to work with the UK Government on the Building Safety Act, they are left with little to no options to deal with the property de...

Lib Dems Propose New Bill to Protect Welsh Farmers

  The Liberal Democrats have proposed new legislation to protect Welsh farmers from being undercut by food trade deals that do not meet the UK’s environment and animal welfare standards.   The plans, set out in a private member’s bill from Liberal Democrat Spokesperson for Rural Affairs Tim Farron MP, would require the government’s Trade and Agriculture Commission to assess the impact of any new trade deal on UK farmers, and guarantee that MPs had the final say on trade deals initiated by the government.   This would include an assessment of the impact of new trade deals on farming communities in each region and nation of the UK.   Farron’s Bill comes after concern was raised by farmers unions and the Welsh Liberal Democrats that the Government’s new trade deal with Australia will not include a Welsh-specific impact assessment. Welsh Liberal Democrat Leader Jane Dodds MS and Liberal Democrat Rural Affairs Spokesperson Tim Farron MP Commenting on his...