Williams’ Welsh Lib Dems will deliver more
Welsh Liberal Democrat Leadership Candidate, Kirsty Williams, has called for a major overhaul of her party so as to ensure that they are able to deliver more Assembly Members in 2011.
“In 1999, 2003 and 2007, we went into elections with a vague aspiration of achieving ten or more Assembly Members,” she said, “but came out the other side unchanged. Our overall vote may have gone up each time but that was not reflected in the number of seats that we won. As a result there has been enormous disappointment and a feeling of having been let down amongst the membership.
“It is no good going into the 2011 elections with similar vague aspirations as my opponent has suggested, unless we reform the way that the party operates and make it more professional, and more effective at a local level. That is why I will be leading a major root and branch reform of the Welsh Liberal Democrats to ensure that we have a real chance of progress and realistic and achievable targets.
“In particular, I will be looking to work with our very successful Council Groups and local parties to make sure that each area has a proper development plan aimed at increasing the number of Welsh Liberal Democrat Councillors, AMs and MPs. I will be instigating a Wales-wide training programme to improve the skills of our activists and placing greater emphasis on recruitment and retention of members. I will also want the party to direct what funds it can to support these activities and will be looking for external funding from longstanding benefactors to support this activity. Finally, I want to improve support for candidates to make it possible for more women and ethnic minorities to come forward and stand for the Welsh Liberal Democrats as well as helping existing candidates improve their skills and effectiveness.”
