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Lib Dem belief in PR 'absolute' Lib Dem belief in PR 'absolute'
(about 3 hours later)
Sir Menzies Campbell is to stress his "absolute" commitment to proportional representation in a speech to Welsh Liberal Democrats. Sir Menzies Campbell has stressed his "absolute" commitment to proportional representation in a speech to Welsh Liberal Democrats.
It follows apparent confusion over the party's strategy after a senior official told reporters electoral reform was no longer a "deal breaker". It followed apparent confusion over the party's strategy after a senior official told reporters electoral reform was no longer a "deal breaker".
Sir Menzies will later tell activists they should be in "no doubt" about his commitment to PR for "every election". Sir Menzies told activists they should be in "no doubt" about his commitment to PR for "every election".
The official's briefing, on Sunday, was later dismissed as "unauthorised".The official's briefing, on Sunday, was later dismissed as "unauthorised".
The official in question quit his job on Thursday, the party said in a statement.The official in question quit his job on Thursday, the party said in a statement.
He will leave in the next two months, Lib Dem chief executive Chris Rennard said, paying tribute to his "invaluable role," adding it had been agreed in November that he would move on.He will leave in the next two months, Lib Dem chief executive Chris Rennard said, paying tribute to his "invaluable role," adding it had been agreed in November that he would move on.
In his speech, Sir Menzies said his party's policies would mean an income tax cut for 1.4m people in Wales.
"Almost 200,000 of the poorest Welsh taxpayers will come out of national income tax altogether" he said.
On law and order, he said the party had a "five-step campaign" to make Wales safer.
It would ditch identity cards and spend the money on police, crackdown on anti-social behaviour and binge drinking, impose "honest sentences", make offenders repay their communities and change the compensation regime for victims.
Proportional representation has been a cornerstone of Lib Dem policy since the party's formation.Proportional representation has been a cornerstone of Lib Dem policy since the party's formation.
During his successful campaign to succeed Charles Kennedy as leader last year, Sir Menzies said supporting any party which failed to back it would be a "betrayal".During his successful campaign to succeed Charles Kennedy as leader last year, Sir Menzies said supporting any party which failed to back it would be a "betrayal".
In his speech on Sunday to activists in Harrogate, the Lib Dem leader did not include proportional representation as one five "tests" he set for a Gordon Brown led government. But he will tell the Welsh Liberal Democrats' spring conference he still supported PR as "a system that encourages parties to work together more". In his speech on Sunday to activists in Harrogate, the Lib Dem leader did not include proportional representation as one five "tests" he set for a Gordon Brown led government.
"Be in no doubt that my commitment to proportional representation - for every election - is absolute," he will say at a rally later. But he told the Welsh Liberal Democrats' spring conference he still supported PR as "a system that encourages parties to work together more".
"Be in no doubt that my commitment to proportional representation - for every election - is absolute," he said at a rally on Friday.
'Fair and democratic''Fair and democratic'
Using the Welsh assembly as an example, Sir Menzies will say: "Don't forget that it was by positioning ourselves as the driving force in the government of Wales's first term that over 100 Liberal Democrat policies were put into action. Using the Welsh assembly as an example, Sir Menzies said: "Don't forget that it was by positioning ourselves as the driving force in the government of Wales's first term that over 100 Liberal Democrat policies were put into action.
"You know, it was proportional representation that made that possible.""You know, it was proportional representation that made that possible."
But ahead of his speech in Swansea, Sir Menzies told BBC Wales he said he would leave the door open for Welsh Liberal Democrat leader Mike German to negotiate the party's PR position in Wales. Ahead of his speech in Swansea, Sir Menzies told BBC Wales he would leave the door open for Welsh Liberal Democrat leader Mike German to negotiate the party's PR position in Wales.
"It's up to Mike German and his colleagues to decide if that is an issue they want to push," he said."It's up to Mike German and his colleagues to decide if that is an issue they want to push," he said.
With the Scottish Parliament also elected by proportional representation, Sir Menzies will say it was "a system that ensures that every vote counts, a system which is fair, democratic and inclusive". With the Scottish Parliament also elected by proportional representation, Sir Menzies said it was "a system that ensures that every vote counts, a system which is fair, democratic and inclusive".
Welsh assembly elections are held on 3 May.Welsh assembly elections are held on 3 May.
Sixty Assembly Members are elected every four years. Forty of these are elected in constituencies using the first-past-the-post system; the other twenty are elected to represent the five regions of Wales. Sixty Assembly Members are elected every four years. Forty of these are elected in constituencies using the first-past-the-post system; the other 20 are elected to represent the five regions of Wales.
If Labour fails to get an outright majority on 3 May, they could turn to the Lib Dems as possible coalition partners.If Labour fails to get an outright majority on 3 May, they could turn to the Lib Dems as possible coalition partners.
Welsh Secretary Peter Hain has ruled out a deal with Plaid Cymru and the party would not work with the Conservatives.Welsh Secretary Peter Hain has ruled out a deal with Plaid Cymru and the party would not work with the Conservatives.
In his conference speech, Sir Menzies will also criticise Plaid Cymru. In his conference speech, Sir Menzies also criticised Plaid Cymru.
'Highest bidder''Highest bidder'
"Be under no illusion - Plaid might not put independence at the top of its manifesto, but it is at the forefront of their minds."Be under no illusion - Plaid might not put independence at the top of its manifesto, but it is at the forefront of their minds.
"They are playing fast and loose with the future of Wales.""They are playing fast and loose with the future of Wales."
Plaid AM Rhodri Glyn Thomas said: "The Lib Dems are basing their campaign on being the deal breakers come May 4, happy to sell themselves to the highest bidder. Plaid AM Rhodri Glyn Thomas said: "The Lib Dems are basing their campaign on being the deal breakers come 4 May, happy to sell themselves to the highest bidder.
"Plaid on the other hand is fighting this campaign on our distinct policy agenda."Plaid on the other hand is fighting this campaign on our distinct policy agenda.
"Whilst the other parties harp on about coalitions, we are fighting this election to win, to make a real difference on May 4 with a Plaid government." "Whilst the other parties harp on about coalitions, we are fighting this election to win, to make a real difference on 4 May with a Plaid government."