Welsh Liberal blogs

  The Welsh Lib Dems have continued their calls for the Welsh Government and local councils to rule out the illiberal and unworkable vaccine passports, with news that the Conservatives in Westminster are looking to bring them in.   The party’s leader in Wales, Jane Dodds MS said: “The Welsh Liberal Democrats continue to oppose any form of passport or certificate for accessing services or venues. The introduction of these would not only be divisive and discriminatory but unworkable and illiberal.   "If we truly want to keep people safe, then we must ensure that we have a strong test and trace system to protect vulnerable people - but a national ID system for vaccines does not help with this.   "Introducing these passports will leave many businesses on their knees, facing reduced custom and struggling with the extra cost of enforcement.   "I call on the Welsh Government and local councils to rule out introducing these burdensome vaccine passports...

  Protests are an essential way for people to make their voices heard. Liberal Democrats are fiercely opposing the new Protest Crackdown Law and will be voting against it this evening. As you may have noticed, this Conservative Government doesn’t like to be challenged. Just look at how angry and red-faced Boris Johnson gets at Prime Minister’s Questions every week. Just listen to how often Ministers rail against lawyers and the courts, because judges sometimes rule against them. Just remember how they refused to do interviews with journalists who might dare to ask difficult questions. MPs vote today on Priti Patel’s Protest Crackdown Law And now comes their latest attempt to silence any opposition to their policies, as MPs vote today on Priti Patel’s Protest Crackdown Law – or, to use its official title, Part 3 of the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill. The new law would, if passed, give the police new powers to clampdown on protests if they are nois...

Wales is never going to get a fair deal under the Conservatives The Welsh Liberal Democrats have slammed the Conservatives for voting against a motion to explore the devolution of powers over justice to the Senedd. Tonight, in a vote at Westminster, the Conservatives have voted down a cross-party motion which was aimed at forcing the UK Government to explore the impacts of the devolution of justice within six months. The devolution of justice powers to Wales has long been recommended, including in the Silk Commission in 2014 and in the Commission on Justice in Wales in 2019. Justice is devolved in both Wales and Northern Ireland. The Welsh Liberal Democrats put fighting for justice to be devolved to Wales at the heart of their recent Senedd manifesto and have long campaigned for a fairer, federal UK. Jane Dodds MS, Leader of the Welsh Liberal Democrats, said: “Tonight, the Conservatives have chosen to put their quest for power and control ahead of the best interests of Wale...

  The review comes as Natural Resources Wales warned that the proposed new rules will have the perverse outcome of making water quality worse.   Jane Dodds MS said: “ Everyone agrees that we must take urgent action to protect our natural environment, including tackling water pollution. We need a proportionate, sustainable and targeted approach to water pollution in Wales. But the proposed plans fail to do that.   “I have heard many farmers say that their cattle will have to go if these regulations are fully implemented. The consequences for our environment and rural economy will be catastrophic.     “There is an irresponsible spreading of slurry and poultry manure near watercourses and the gradual leaching of nitrate and phosphate into groundwater is a long-term problem. But there are other solutions, including ensuring Natural Resources Wales have the resources it needs to adequately police pollution incidents and prosecute offenders.   ...

  Happy Pride Month from the Lib Dems! We are proud of the strides we've made in the UK when it comes to LGBTQ+ equality, but there is still progress to be made. Pride Month is a time of LGBTQ+ celebration, activism and commemoration. Whilst pride marches across the world have been cancelled for a second year due to Coronavirus, Pride Month is an opportunity to take stock of the march towards LGBTQ+ equality in the UK, while acknowledging and continuing to fight for progress.  Pride Month is held every June in remembrance of the Stonewall Riots when LGBTQ+ people in New York fought back against police brutality in 1969. Trailblazing activists helped capitalise on the momentum after the riots, including Marsha P Johnson,  Sylvia Rivera, and Miss Major Griffin-Gracy.  The UK too witnessed increased LGBTQ+ activism from the 1960s onwards, helping propel important legislation like the decriminalisation of homosexual acts in 1967. But more chan...

  We mustn’t let George Floyd’s memory fade. We must hold onto the outrage we felt at his murder, and continue to channel it into action for positive change. Today marks one year since George Floyd, an unarmed Black man, was brutally murdered by a police officer on the streets of Minneapolis.   George’s murder — and the wave of protests it sparked — forced us all to confront the racial injustice that Black people face every day.   George’s murder — and the wave of protests it sparked — forced us all to confront the racial injustice that Black people face every day.   The past twelve months have brought watershed moments.   The Black Lives Matter movement rose to prominence around the world.   It inspired many of us to have difficult but important conversations about race — myself included.   And in April, Derek Chauvin was found guilty of George’s murder.   Although Chauvin’s guilty verdict is a step in the right direction, we are still a long way...

  Jane Dodds MS Leader of the Welsh Liberal Democrats has welcomed the concerns raised by NFU Leaders in Wales over the proposed trade deal with Australia and called on the Conservatives not to break the promises they made with local farmers regarding food standards and animal welfare. The call comes amid rumours that the government is preparing to sign a zero-tariffs trade agreement to Australia with no exceptions for agriculture. The position, said to be supported by International Trade secretary Liz Truss, has been met by a stern warning from the NFU that Welsh farming will struggle to compete if zero-tariff trade on lamb and beef goes ahead with a post-Brexit trade deal with Australia. Commenting on the developments leader of the Welsh Liberal Democrats Jane Dodds MS said: “I am disappointed to hear that in a rush to conclude a trade deal with Australia, full tariff liberalisation is on the table. This would be a disaster for Welsh family-owned farms. The Conservatives ha...