New Welsh party leader to address local campaigners

The council by-election in Bryncoch South has attracted much interest in the Welsh Liberal Democrat party. It is many years since a Welsh local authority campaign has attracted so many activists from outside the local authority area, and I cannot remember it happening in my twenty-odd years of membership of the Aberavon and Neath party. So many volunteers have come forward that a mini-rally was scheduled for Caewern community centre at 17:30 today. Now Sheila Kingston-Jones' campaign has been given an extra boost by the news that Jane Dodds, the leader of the Welsh Liberal Democrats is making the Caewern meeting one of her first public appearances since her election last month.

Jane has already set down a marker:

My priorities are clear. Setting out our stall as a progressive and reforming party for Wales based on the values of liberalism, freedom, and equality. Creating an attractive narrative about our Party and Welsh liberalism to reconnect with voters.  We must train, support, develop and encourage our members and activists, creating the next generation of candidates and activists across Wales.  We must engage with our businesses, our farmers and our communities to listen to their ideas about what we need to do to make Wales a vibrant, outward looking country.  We must reach out to the disenfranchised in our society, seeking to be a voice for those who have been marginalised and left behind. 

I hope you will help me to turn our fortunes around.  We have amazing councillors all over Wales standing up for their communities, and we have Kirsty Williams in Government improving the education and life chances of our children. There is plenty enough to be motivated about, and plenty to be proud of. We may have been down, but we are not out.

There is lots to do. I’m going to get to work straight away, and I hope you will join me.

Rebuilding our party will need a team approach. It will need a Wales wide Liberal Democrat approach. Over the coming months I am planning to meet as many of you as possible to start shaping our agenda, and shaping our way back to start winning once again.

It is heartening that Jane sees Bryncoch South as a springboard for the restoration of Liberalism to its traditional place in Welsh politics.