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Lib Dems vow 'fairness' for Wales Lib Dems vow 'fairness' for Wales
(10 minutes later)
Welsh Liberal Democrat leader Kirsty Williams says fairness will be the key theme of her party's spring conference.Welsh Liberal Democrat leader Kirsty Williams says fairness will be the key theme of her party's spring conference.
She said the majority of Welsh taxpayers would be £700 a year better off if her party wins the general election.She said the majority of Welsh taxpayers would be £700 a year better off if her party wins the general election.
The Lib Dems are promising to remove those earning £10,000 or less from the tax system altogether.The Lib Dems are promising to remove those earning £10,000 or less from the tax system altogether.
They also claim a Lib Dem UK government would provide an extra £75m for Welsh schools.They also claim a Lib Dem UK government would provide an extra £75m for Welsh schools.
The party's conference takes place at Swansea's Grand Theatre this weekend (5-7 Feb). The party's conference takes place at Swansea's Grand Theatre on the weekend.
Kirsty Williams said: "I think when people hear our messages on fair taxes, on a fair start for their children, on cleaning up politics - I think they'll respond to that.Kirsty Williams said: "I think when people hear our messages on fair taxes, on a fair start for their children, on cleaning up politics - I think they'll respond to that.
"We've seen in recent years how the people of Swansea and Newport and Wrexham and Merthyr, they've been turning to the Liberal Democrats when they're electing their councillors, and I'm confident that they'll want to do that when it comes to the Westminster election as well"."We've seen in recent years how the people of Swansea and Newport and Wrexham and Merthyr, they've been turning to the Liberal Democrats when they're electing their councillors, and I'm confident that they'll want to do that when it comes to the Westminster election as well".
I think when people hear our messages on fair taxes, on a fair start for their children, on cleaning up politics - I think they'll respond to that Welsh Liberal Democrat leader, Kirsty WilliamsI think when people hear our messages on fair taxes, on a fair start for their children, on cleaning up politics - I think they'll respond to that Welsh Liberal Democrat leader, Kirsty Williams
The Liberal Democrats currently have four of the 40 Welsh Westminster seats: Brecon and Radnorshire, Montgomeryshire, Ceredigion and Cardiff Central.The Liberal Democrats currently have four of the 40 Welsh Westminster seats: Brecon and Radnorshire, Montgomeryshire, Ceredigion and Cardiff Central.
But they run Swansea council, they are part of the administration in Newport and one of their councillors, Aled Roberts, is the leader of Wrexham council.But they run Swansea council, they are part of the administration in Newport and one of their councillors, Aled Roberts, is the leader of Wrexham council.
So Ms Williams said it was no surprise that those places in particular form "the natural areas that we'll be looking to make progress in".So Ms Williams said it was no surprise that those places in particular form "the natural areas that we'll be looking to make progress in".
She also promises her party, under the UK leadership of Nick Clegg, would reform the banking system and "clean up" politics.She also promises her party, under the UK leadership of Nick Clegg, would reform the banking system and "clean up" politics.
The conference arrives at an interesting moment in Ms Williams' leadership career.The conference arrives at an interesting moment in Ms Williams' leadership career.
It is just days before a vote in the assembly next Tues (Feb 9), which could start the process towards a referendum on full law-making powers for the assembly in devolved policy areas. It is just days before a vote in the assembly on Tuesday which could start the process towards a referendum on full law-making powers for the assembly in devolved policy areas.
The Liberal Democrats and Conservatives are both seeking assurances from the Labour-Plaid assembly government that any referendum would not be held on or around the date of May 2011's assembly election.The Liberal Democrats and Conservatives are both seeking assurances from the Labour-Plaid assembly government that any referendum would not be held on or around the date of May 2011's assembly election.
Such assurances have not yet been forthcoming and the government line is that all options remain open.Such assurances have not yet been forthcoming and the government line is that all options remain open.
Referendum 'trigger'Referendum 'trigger'
Both the Liberal Democrats and the Conservatives have said that without such assurances they would abstain on that vote.Both the Liberal Democrats and the Conservatives have said that without such assurances they would abstain on that vote.
But with the vote drawing nearer, Ms Williams declined to say whether that remained her party's position.But with the vote drawing nearer, Ms Williams declined to say whether that remained her party's position.
She said: "What I can do is play my part in bringing people together and making sure we all get the assurances we need to move forward on a cross-party basis.She said: "What I can do is play my part in bringing people together and making sure we all get the assurances we need to move forward on a cross-party basis.
"You know, we have to work together if we're going to convince people out there that we're worth backing in this building (the Senedd), that we're worth giving the extra powers to."You know, we have to work together if we're going to convince people out there that we're worth backing in this building (the Senedd), that we're worth giving the extra powers to.
"And we're not going to do that if at the earliest opportunity we squabble and fall out. And that's why I'm still talking to my colleagues and I'm confident that we can move forward in a positive way.""And we're not going to do that if at the earliest opportunity we squabble and fall out. And that's why I'm still talking to my colleagues and I'm confident that we can move forward in a positive way."
TV debatesTV debates
North Wales AM Eleanor Burnham said she is confident Nick Clegg will perform well in the new "presidential"-style television general election debates between the UK party leaders, boosting the party's appeal.North Wales AM Eleanor Burnham said she is confident Nick Clegg will perform well in the new "presidential"-style television general election debates between the UK party leaders, boosting the party's appeal.
But she argues the "main issue" will be the party's policies, which she claims aim to create a "fairer" society.But she argues the "main issue" will be the party's policies, which she claims aim to create a "fairer" society.
She said: "We've got more poverty since the second world war, we've got more child poverty and yet we were supposed to have got rid of it - or halved it by now and got rid of it by 2020. She said: "We've got more poverty since the Second World War, we've got more child poverty and yet we were supposed to have got rid of it - or halved it by now and got rid of it by 2020.
"That hasn't happened. We want fairer taxation. We want to make every vote count - that means proportional representation.""That hasn't happened. We want fairer taxation. We want to make every vote count - that means proportional representation."
Both Kirsty Williams and Nick Clegg are due to address the conference on Saturday afternoon.Both Kirsty Williams and Nick Clegg are due to address the conference on Saturday afternoon.