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Welsh Lib Dems: Party at 'turning point' says Williams Welsh Lib Dems: Party at 'turning point' says Williams
(about 9 hours later)
Welsh Liberal Democrat leader Kirsty Williams will tell party members it has reached a "crucial turning point" in its history. Welsh Liberal Democrat leader Kirsty Williams has told party members it has reached a "crucial turning point" in its history.
On the second day of its spring conference, she will say that the Eastleigh by-election showed the party could win in tough circumstances. On the second day of its spring conference, she said that the Eastleigh by-election showed the party could win in tough circumstances.
But she is also expected to admit that the party has been battered by relentless criticism from opponents. But she also admitted that the party has been battered by relentless criticism from opponents.
However she insists that the Welsh party has "rediscovered" its courage. However she insisted that the Welsh party has "rediscovered" its courage.
The Liberal Democrats retained their seat in Eastleigh in February in a by-election called following the party's former cabinet minister Chris Huhne's resignation as an MP, after admitting he had perverted the course of justice over driving licence points.The Liberal Democrats retained their seat in Eastleigh in February in a by-election called following the party's former cabinet minister Chris Huhne's resignation as an MP, after admitting he had perverted the course of justice over driving licence points.
At the conference in Cardiff, Ms Williams will claim the fact the Lib Dems retained third place in the Cardiff South and Penarth by-election last November, albeit with a much reduced share of the vote, was a "sign post that things were changing" for the party. At the conference in Cardiff, Ms Williams claimed the fact the Lib Dems retained third place in the Cardiff South and Penarth by-election last November, albeit with a much reduced share of the vote, was a "sign post that things were changing" for the party.
"Eastleigh was a turning point," she will say. "Eastleigh was a turning point," she said.
"Yes, the criticisms of our opponents have been relentless, strong and unyielding. It knocked our confidence. It knocked my confidence."Yes, the criticisms of our opponents have been relentless, strong and unyielding. It knocked our confidence. It knocked my confidence.
"But the reason we won Eastleigh, and the reason we held our own in Cardiff South and Penarth is because members rediscovered their courage to get back out there and knock on doors and talk to people.""But the reason we won Eastleigh, and the reason we held our own in Cardiff South and Penarth is because members rediscovered their courage to get back out there and knock on doors and talk to people."
Abandoned policiesAbandoned policies
Echoing a recent warning by former prime minister Tony Blair to his party, Ms Williams will describe Labour as a "repository for anger and not the politics of ideas" in both Westminster and Cardiff Bay. Echoing a recent warning by former prime minister Tony Blair to his party, Ms Williams described Labour as a "repository for anger and not the politics of ideas" in both Westminster and Cardiff Bay.
"Carwyn Jones is the embodiment of that, cashing in on anger rather than using his power to make a difference in Wales," she will claim."Carwyn Jones is the embodiment of that, cashing in on anger rather than using his power to make a difference in Wales," she will claim.
"Every week at First Minister's questions the absence of ambition is astounding, the lack of ideas alarming.""Every week at First Minister's questions the absence of ambition is astounding, the lack of ideas alarming."
The Welsh Liberal Democrat leader will contrast a Labour Welsh government "bankrupt of ideas" with her party's "sensible and practical" policies.The Welsh Liberal Democrat leader will contrast a Labour Welsh government "bankrupt of ideas" with her party's "sensible and practical" policies.
She will say Labour ministers had agreed to introduce schemes to help home buyers and poorer school pupils to secure Lib Dem support to get the Welsh government's budget through the assembly. She said Labour ministers had agreed to introduce schemes to help home buyers and poorer school pupils to secure Lib Dem support to get the Welsh government's budget through the assembly.
But Ms Williams will say the New Buy scheme had been "abandoned" whilst the "pupil premium" had not been given the funding increases that apply across the border in England. But Ms Williams said the New Buy scheme had been "abandoned" whilst the "pupil premium" had not been given the funding increases that apply across the border in England.
"Right policy, wrong government," she will argue. "Right policy, wrong government," she argued.
On Saturday, Deputy Prime Minister and Liberal Democrat leader Nick Clegg insisted the UK government would not "lurch to the right" in the wake of Lady Thatcher's death and called for a "proper debate" on devolving more powers to the Welsh assembly.On Saturday, Deputy Prime Minister and Liberal Democrat leader Nick Clegg insisted the UK government would not "lurch to the right" in the wake of Lady Thatcher's death and called for a "proper debate" on devolving more powers to the Welsh assembly.