As Kirsty heads to Mold for the Annual North Wales Lib Dem dinner she has raised concerns that not enough has been done to push the party to electoral success in North Wales and that for too long it has been left out of the Party’s strategic planning.

“Despite the success of our North Wales AM Eleanor Burnham and of the Lib Dem led Wrexham council along with individual councillors in Conwy, Flintshire, Denbighshire and Ynys Mon we have not put enough resources and support into campaigning in the region.

Kirsty Williams said:

“Under my leadership there will be no ‘no-go’ areas in Wales and no local party will be forgotten. We need to professionalise our campaigning activity and strategy and give support for candidates in all seats from Town and Community Council to County, Assembly and Westminster level.

“The Liberals were the original party of Wales but this message has been lost somewhere along the way and I want to reclaim that space from Plaid. They are letting the people of Wales down from their position of Government but skilfully and deceptively pointing the finger of blame at Labour as though they were a party of Opposition.

“The Liberal Democrats must stop this game and show that we are the party that stands for the ordinary people of Wales. The party that believes education is the greatest form of empowerment and that localism is the best tool for social equality and prosperity.

“I want our party to invest more time and energy in taking our message out to North Wales voters.

“In this year’s council elections and in my own leadership campaign I have spent time supporting and campaigning with our candidates in Wrexham, Conway, Ynys Mon and Rhyl. We have good people working hard in North Wales and I want to help them to the success they deserve.

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Earlier this week Kirsty spoke to David Williamson from the Western Mail about her plans for the Welsh Liberal Democrats and for Wales.

You can watch a video of the interview at here , under political videos.

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Plaid Cymru support and seats will be under threat from the Welsh Liberal Democrats - that’s the promise from Kirsty Williams today ahead of leadership hustings in Aberystwyth.

The Lib Dem leadership contender has set her sights on winning over disaffected Plaid voters across the Valleys, North and West Wales. Under her leadership, Kirsty is promising repeat examples of Ceredigion, Pontypridd and Swansea where the Welsh Lib Dems have stolen the march on Plaid.

The AM for Brecon and Radnorshire and party Spokesperson for Enterprise said:
“There’s a new generation of voters in Wales who have grown up during devolution. They’re looking for parties with a Welsh voice that is relevant to them.

“Plaid’s separatist agenda is under sharp focus during these testing economic times and core party policies are being tossed aside by the One Wales Government. People who have given their vote to Plaid in recent times are starting to look elsewhere.

“I believe there is a huge opportunity for a party secure in its Welsh identity, offering Welsh solutions to Welsh problems and a wholehearted commitment to a proper Parliament, to appeal to those voters. Under my leadership, I believe the Welsh Liberal Democrats can be that party.

“There should be no no-go areas for the Welsh Liberal Democrats. There is no reason our progressive and Welsh policies can’t appeal to voters in the Valleys or in North West Wales. We must communicate that we’re on people’s side, and on Wales’s side. We have failed to properly get that message across recently.

“The Tories can never claim to be a party of, and for, Wales. It’s not in their DNA, they’re not in the country’s DNA. Labour is in terminal decline – although Rhodri Morgan’s ability to communicate with Wales has prevented the worst of that decline up until now. With this leadership election the Welsh Liberal Democrats have the chance to get ahead of the game.

“We must expose Plaid’s muddles and extremes on independence. We must expose their failings as a party of government – throwing long held beliefs aside and playing the blame game with Labour in London.

“We must reach out to voters who’ve been sympathetic to Plaid and say the Welsh Lib Dems can be your party.

“The original Welsh party, with a full commitment to both our languages, a full commitment to a proper parliament and a full commitment to social justice and prosperity for all our communities.”

Notes:
The Welsh Lib Dem Leadership Mid & West Wales will be in ABERYSTWYTH Friday, 14th November 7.30pm - The Cambria, Marine Terrace, Aberystwyth, SY23 2AZ

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During Newport’s Welsh Liberal Democrat leadership hustings last night Kirsty Williams said she would transform the party to transform Wales.

She called for a strategic approach to moving the Welsh Liberal Democrats forward and for a move away from the internal naval gazing of constitutional amendments to an outward focus on connecting with the people of Wales: “We need to talk in the language of real people, not in the language of lobbyists and hard-bitten activists.

“Let’s start from where people are, and let’s get out and hear what they’ve go to say. That’s exactly what Group leaders like Cllr Ed Townsend in Newport and Cllr Phyl Hobson in Monmouth are doing and I am delighted they are supporting my campaign.”

Setting out her leadership style Kirsty called for the party to work with her to make the transformation: “This is a time for raising our sights, for being far more ambitious for ourselves - for our Party, and most of all for our country; for the sake not just of ourselves, but of our children and our grandchildren.

“This is a time for reaching out to people, for reaching out beyond Cardiff and the political establishment.

“If elected leader, I will lead from the front, with passion, conviction, and principle.

“Under my leadership there will be no ‘no go’ areas in this great country of ours. We are weak in some parts of Wales – such as the Valleys of South Wales and parts of Welsh-speaking Wales. This is unacceptable – our fellow citizens in those parts of Wales deserve to hear and see the Welsh Lib Dems too. I am the candidate to take our messages and the fight to all parts of Wales.”

Cllr Edward Townsend, Leader Newport City Council and candidate for Newport East was amongst Kirsty’s supporters attending the hustings.

He said: “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 satisfied 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.

“We need a leader with the determination, vision and passion to take us to the next level. Kirsty will inspire our activists and make sure we take the fight to the other parties and win.

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

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Kirsty Williams, Welsh Lib Dem Leadership contender continues to gain support from across Wales. Today her supporter of the day is Councillor Bob Griffin, from Merthyr Tydfil.

Bob says:

“It is fair to say no recent election for Leader has come at a more difficult and trying time for Wales.

“What we need at this crucial moment in history is a leader who can inspire us, to be loud and clear in explaining the Liberal Democrat policies to get the Welsh nation back on its feet, to champion the work we do in local councils, and reinvigorate our challenge to the other parties in the Welsh Assembly. Above all we need a good communicator, someone who can win the media debates, and raise the profile of the Liberal Democrats in Wales.

“I believe the candidate to do this is Kirsty Williams.”

Mae’r Cynghorydd Bob Griffin o Merthyr Tudful yn cefnogi Kirsty…

“Mae’n deg dweud na fu unrhyw etholiad arweinydd wedi digwydd mewn cyfnod mwy anodd na gofidus yn hanes Cymru.

“Ar yr adeg allweddol hon yn ein hanes, mae angen arweinydd sy’n gallu’n hysbrydoli, i esbonio â llais uchel ac eglur, polisïau’r Democratiaid Rhyddfrydol i gael Cymru yn ôl ar ei thraed, i hybu’n gwaith yn y cynghorau lleol ac i adfywio’n her i’r pleidiau eraill yng Nghynulliad Cenedlaethol Cymru. Yn fwy na dim, mae angen cyfathrebwr da arnom, rhywun sy’n gallu ennill y dadleuon yn y cyfryngau a chodi proffil y Democratiaid Rhyddfrydol yng Nghymru.

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