Welsh Liberal blogs

Alun Jenkins, the Welsh Liberal Democrat councillor for Offa Ward in Wrexham has been awarded the Medal of the Order of the British Empire (BEM) for Political and Public Service in the New Year 2022 Honours List. Cllr Jenkins has continuously served Offa Ward for over 50 years as its councillor, having been elected in 1970 and is one of the longest-serving Liberal Democrat councillors in Wales. Cllr Alun Jenkins. Congratulating Alun on his BEM Welsh Liberal Democrat Leader Jane Dodds MS said: “Alun has been a stalwart public servant for Offa Ward and the whole of Wrexham for as long as I can remember and it's fantastic to see his public service recognised with a BEM. “Alun has a strong reputation for always thoroughly engaging with constituents and also set a tremendous record during his tenures as Deputy Leader of the Council and the Lead Member for Finance. “Alun has not only served his constituents with the utmost dedication, but he also inspired and worked with ge...

Responding to First Minister Mark Drakeford’s comments on the potential for employees to be fined £60 for not working from home if they are able to, Welsh Liberal Democrat Leader Jane Dodds MS has stated that explanations remain unclear and that the rule should be immediately dropped. Responding Jane Dodds stated: “It is inaccurate to state the system of fines is the same as in the past. Regulation 18B, which covers the fines referred to was introduced in a different context and while it was voted for by the Senedd, we voted for it under very different circumstances. “At the time all of Wales was under a stay at home mandate, while at the present time the guidance only applies to certain employers and employees. “Concern over these fine is not down to “unhelpful reporting”, but rather a serious concern the Government is not recognising the power dynamics between workers and employers. It is not a relationship of equals and a great many people will not feel comfortable having to...

  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...

  The Welsh Liberal Democrats have accused the Welsh Conservatives of failing to use their influence in Westminster to protect Welsh farmers in the wake the of Conservative Government’s post-Brexit trade policy. The Welsh Liberal Democrats comments come after the UK Government announced that it will not publish a Wales-specific impact assessment of the Australian trade deal. Critics of the deal, and the subsequent deal with New Zealand claim the trade agreements will disproportionately hit Welsh farmers and rural communities in Wales. Both the Australia and New Zealand trade deals have sparked concerns among farmers, unions such as NFU Cymru and FUW and those in the food processing industry. Concerns have focused on the risk that the zero-tariff and zero-quota access deals will allow lower standard and cheap meat to flood UK markets and push Welsh farmers out of business. Commenting Welsh Liberal Democrat Leader Jane Dodds MS said: “The news that the Conservative Governme...

Ahead of today’s Senedd debate on a cladding safety Bill, the Welsh Liberal Democrats have reiterated their calls that the Welsh Government must protect people first and pursue developers later when it comes to tackling the cladding crisis.   Under current plans, the Welsh Government is pursuing developers to force them to pay for the removal and replacement of unsafe cladding, but the Welsh Liberal Democrats have argued that citizens cannot continue to live in unsafe accommodation or front up the bill while the Welsh Government wrangles in legal loopholes with developers.   The Party is calling on the Welsh Government to front the cost of the changes as soon as possible and pursue the developers for costs at a later date in order to ensure no one is living in unsafe accommodation.   Commenting Welsh Liberal Democrat Leader Jane Dodds MS said: “The cladding scandal has been a long and drawn-out nightmare for leaseholders. I cannot imagine what it feels like ...

  Responding to the news that Labour and Plaid Cymru have signed a 3-year cooperation deal in the Senedd, Welsh Liberal Democrat Leader Jane Dodds MS responded by reiterating that the Welsh Liberal Democrats will remain an independent opposition party, working with the Government to achieve common goals, but also holding them to account in areas in which they are failing or not achieving enough in. Jane Dodds MS - Leader of the Welsh Liberal Democrats Leader of the Welsh Liberal Democrats Jane Dodds MS responded to the deal saying:   “ Now more than ever it is important that parties are able to work together to confront the big issues affecting Wales. I look forward to seeing the detail but be assured that as leader of the Welsh Liberal Democrats I will continue to demand better people across Wales and hold both Labour and Plaid Cymru to account.   “On the surface, there are a number of issues which have been covered in the announcement that were part of our manif...

  Welsh Liberal Democrat Leader Jane Dodds MS has claimed that “the stench of sleaze coming from the Conservative Party is overwhelming.” after reports that Alun Cairns was hired by a company just weeks before it secured a major UK Government contract. Responding to reports by  The Times  that Alun Cairns MP was hired as a consultant for a company just weeks before it secured a major contract for the UK Government without competition, Welsh Liberal Democrat Leader Jane Dodds MS has claimed that “the stench of sleaze coming from the Conservative Party is overwhelming .”   It was revealed by  the Times  that Alun Cairns, MP for the Vale of Glamorgan and former Secretary of State for Wales, was hired as a paid advisor by the Welsh-based company BBI Solutions in July 2020. A month after his appointment, the company won a major contract with the UK Government worth £75 million without competition. The contract had already been subject to criticism aft...