Kirsty Williams, candidate for the Welsh Liberal Democrat Leadership, has been branded as one of the top 100 most powerful people in Wales.

Only ten women have made it onto the list and Kirsty is the only female non-Ministerial Politician.

Kirsty Williams commented: “I am proud that the Welsh Liberal Democrats will be the first party in Wales to have a female leader – we are truly a party of progression and equality.

“It is very disappointing that only 10% of the power list is female. We still have a long way to go before we have true equality in Wales.

“As leader of the Welsh Lib Dems I would work hard to ensure that our party does more to support women in politics. We must ensure that women are empowered to have the aspiration and support to make it to the top of their field.”

Notes to the Editor

The November edition of Wales Business Insider Magazine has published its Power 100, described as Insider’s View of the most powerful people in Wales.

Kirsty is 89th on the list

Ends

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Welsh Liberal Democrat Leadership candidate, Kirsty Williams, has said that she will campaign to close the growing democratic deficit that exists in Wales if she is elected on 8th December.

Highlighting the growing control-freakery of the Labour-Plaid Cymru One Wales Government, Kirsty has called on Government to trust local people and elected officials more. She wants to see a number of reforms to give greater local control and accountability over key services. In particular she would like to see direct elections to Wales’ National Parks, a clearer role for local Council and Social Service Departments in the current re-organisation of the health service and for the Assembly’s regeneration programmes such as Communities First being handed over to local authorities so that they can be delivered as part of other services rather than standing alone, subject to the diktat of a Cardiff based Minister.

“When the Assembly was established there was a good relationship between the Government and local Councils,” said Kirsty. “However, that has deteriorated in recent years as Ministers have sought to establish control over all aspects of Welsh life for themselves. They are centralising services rather than trusting local people and locally accountable politicians to deliver them.”

“Our local Councils know what is needed in their area better than remote politicians sitting in the Cardiff Bay bubble. It is time that they were given more responsibility for delivering key policies and trusted with the job of ensuring that services are fit for purpose.”

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As the campaign for Leader of the Welsh Liberal Democrats kicks off Kirsty Williams proves she is truly the leader for all of Wales by launching across mid and South Wales.

Kirsty finished the first tireless day of her bid by meeting with supporters in Newport to put forward her vision for the future of the party in Wales.

Kirsty said: ”The welsh Lib Dem team in Newport have proved that the Lib Dems are making strong gains across Wales.

“As leader I will represent Wales as a whole – there will be no ‘no go’ areas for the Welsh Liberal Democrats.  We will build upon our current electoral successes, such as in Newport, to spread our policies across the nation.

 “I am the candidate to represent the whole of Wales – I have experience in both urban and rural settings and intend to use this to ensure that both areas have their voice is heard.

“In the coming weeks I look forward to meeting members throughout Wales to discuss my vision for the future of the party, the Assembly and Wales.”

 

 

 

 

 

 

Councillor Ed Townsend, was amongst those who met with Kirsty.  He commented: “I asked myself a simple question before backing Kirsty Williams as our next leader: “Who would our opponents least like to see leading our party?

“We cannot be satisified with six AMs and just four MPs.
“If we are to make a mark on Wales, then we have to surprise a few people with what we do. Our campaigning has to gain an edge that makes our opponents fear us.

The next stage in our party’s development will need drive, enthusiasm, credibility, political acumen and the ability to speak sheer common sense. Kirsty has all of those qualities - and she is the one Labour, Conservative and Plaid Cymru politicians most definitely don’t want to see winning.

“That is why I’m backing her to be the next leader of the Welsh Liberal Democrats.”

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As the campaign for Leader of the Welsh Liberal Democrats kicks off Kirsty Williams proves she is truly the leader for all of Wales by launching across mid and South Wales.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Kirsty has met up with supporters in Pontypridd to put forward her vision for the future of the party in Wales and to find out about some of the local issues they are campaigning on

 

Kirsty said: “It is the campaigners on the street who are holding the flame of Liberalism in Wales – they are the ones working day in day out to ensure that the Liberal Democrat message spreads across Wales.

“We must not forget them or the individual battles they are waging against Labour, Plaid and the conservatives across Wales.  I want to work with them and support them in professionalising our campaigning and in translating their dedication into electoral success in all areas of Wales.

“I am the candidate to represent the whole of Wales – I have experience in both urban and rural settings and intend to use this to ensure that both areas have their voice is heard.

“As a leader I will represent Wales as a whole – there will be no ‘no go’ areas for the Welsh Liberal Democrats.  We will build upon our current electoral successes, such as in Merthyr, to spread our policies across the nation.

“In the coming weeks I look forward to meeting members throughout Wales to discuss my vision for the future of the party, the Assembly and Wales.”

County Councillor Mike Powell was amongst those who joined Kirsty.  He commented: “I have decided to support Kirsty because she has a youthful and vigorous approach to Welsh politics.  She will lead the party over a long period of growing success.

“I’m sure as leader of the Welsh Lib Dems she will bring us her dogged determination and street fighter abilities to ensure the party succeeds.”

Notes to the Editor:

Kirsty’s campaign started with an early breakfast launch in Llandrindod Wells followed by Brecon; meeting supporters in Swansea; visiting Merthyr College; meeting Lib Dem campaigners in Pontypridd and finishing the day with supporters in Newport.

 

 - Local Councillor Mike Powell took Kirsty to see the Mwyndy site which is one of the few green belt areas left in the Pontypridd constituency.

The Assembly Inspector has just approved a planning appeal there for office and housing development.

The application was twice turned down by RCT Development control.  Welsh Lib Dem AMs signed a statement of opinion against the application several years ago.  the application was a joint one from the then WDA and Scarbroough Developments.

The Inspectors report states that it is being passed even though it is outside of the area of the Local Development Plan.  It also points out that the Assembly are joint appellants, and they own the land and so are beneficiaries.

Councillor Mike Powell and his colleagues are putting a motion to RCT Council asking them to instigate a judicial review.

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As the campaign for Leader of the Welsh Liberal Democrats kicks off Kirsty Williams proves she is truly the leader for all of Wales by launching across Mid and South Wales.

 

 

 

 

Kirsty today met up with supporters in Swansea to put forward her vision for the future of the party in Wales.

 

Kirsty said:”I spent my early years campaigning for the Welsh Liberal Democrats in and around Swansea - it is where I developed my campaigning skills, before going on to represent Brecon and Radnorshire.

 

“I am the candidate to represent the whole of Wales – I have experience in both urban and rural settings and intend to use this to ensure that both areas have their voices heard.

 

“As a leader I will represent Wales in its entirety – there will be no ‘no go’ areas for the Welsh Liberal Democrats.  We will build upon our current electoral successes, such as in Swansea, to spread our policies across the nation.

 

“In the coming weeks I look forward to meeting members throughout Wales to discuss my vision for the future of the party, the Assembly and Wales.”

 

 

Peter Black AM was amongst the supporters to join Kirsty.  He commented: “I am supporting Kirsty Williams for leader because this party needs a real change, we need to look to the next generation for a leader to inspire people, lead us into the future and to give this party a distinctive look.”

 

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