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Williams' Lib Dem leadership bid Williams' Lib Dem leadership bid
(about 6 hours later)
Kirsty Williams is expected to confirm that she will be a candidate to be next leader of the Welsh Liberal Democrats. Kirsty Williams has confirmed that she will be a candidate to be the next leader of the Welsh Liberal Democrats.
The Brecon and Radnorshire AM will make a statement in Swansea later and if elected would become the first female leader of a Welsh party. The Brecon and Radnorshire AM launched her campaign at a news conference in Swansea and if elected would become the first female leader of a Welsh party.
She fiercely opposed last year's failed plan to form a Welsh Assembly Government with Plaid and the Tories. She opposed last year's failed plan to form a Welsh Assembly Government with Plaid Cymru and the Conservatives.
Mike German, who also heads the party's six-strong group of AMs, will stand down as leader next month.Mike German, who also heads the party's six-strong group of AMs, will stand down as leader next month.
Mr German has led the assembly group since Welsh devolution began in 1999 and also became Lib Dem leader in Wales ten months ago when he took over from Montgomeryshire MP Lembit Opik. Mr German has led the party's assembly group since Welsh devolution began in 1999 and also became Lib Dem leader in Wales ten months ago, when he took over from Montgomeryshire MP Lembit Opik.
Party members will be asked to endorse plans to unify the two posts at the conference in October and to agree that only assembly members can run for the top job. Party members will be asked to endorse plans to unify the two posts at the Welsh Lib Dem conference in October and to agree that only assembly members can run for the top job.
It is not clear whether Ms Williams, who has been an AM since 1999, will face a fight for the job. Ms Williams, aged 37, has been an AM since 1999 and lives with her husband, Richard, and three young daughters on the family farm near Brecon.
Marketing executive
Born in Somerset, she moved to Carmarthenshire at the age of three, later working for Carmarthenshire College and as a marketing executive in Cardiff before entering full-time politics.
She was a member of the National Assembly Advisory Group (NAAG), which decided the institution's working arrangements when it was created.
Ms Williams speaks for her party on education, the economy and transport matters and is business manager for the Lib Dem AMs.
Her leadership bid has the backing of South Wales West AM Peter Black and Montgomeryshire AM Mick Bates is also expected to support her.
But is not yet clear whether Ms Williams will face a fight for the job.
Under current rules candidates to be group leader need to be endorsed by another Lib Dem AM.Under current rules candidates to be group leader need to be endorsed by another Lib Dem AM.
But this requirement could be dropped for the new role making it easier for other politicians to stand.But this requirement could be dropped for the new role making it easier for other politicians to stand.
Cardiff Central AM Jenny Randerson is still thinking about whether or not to throw her hat into the ring.
In a statement Ms Randerson said: "At this stage I have not yet reached a decision regarding the party leadership but I will consider the options over the coming weeks.
"It is unlikely that I will make any further statement or comment in the immediate future.
"People should be very clear that currently I am not ruling myself out nor am I ruling myself in."
North Wales AM Eleanor Burnham is understood to want to stand but to be unsure whether she will be nominated.