The Lib Dem Education Minister for Wales, Kirsty Williams, is stepping down from the Senedd in May. She has just given her valedictory speech to the chamber, and here it is:
Llywydd,
It has become a little too fashionable to decry politics, to do down democracy, to undermine our own parliament and government.
Well, I agree it might not be perfect. And I don’t think we’d want a perfect system, empty of the debate and discussion which leads to real change.
But what we have built, what we are building, is a democracy fit for all the people of our nation.
It is never a thing that is done – it is something we must all keep doing, keep perfecting, keep extending.
And I am proud to have to have worked alongside so many others to make my contribution to that project.
I still believe that politics – as Robert Kennedy described it – is the “honourable profession.”
And there is honour in finding common ground, for the common good, across parties and policies.
Each serious party in the Senedd has made its own contribution to change and delivering for Wales over my two decades here.
Despite our relative youth as a democracy – that is a sign of our maturity as a political institution and culture.
Having the courage to compromise and work together, in a trustworthy and open manner, when the occasion demands it.
Differences are healthy – but lacking basic values, decency and respect certainly isn’t.
In maintaining that respect for each other, we must remember that this project is bigger than any one of us.
Finally, Llywydd, I want to just place on record my debt of gratitude to the staff who have supported me and the Welsh Liberal Democrats over the years, both in the constituency, across the country and in parliament.
Above all else, I would like to thank the people of Brecon and Radnorshire for their support over the last two decades.
Diolch o Galon.
I may be biased, but I am in no doubt that our constituency is truly the greatest anyone could have the privilege of representing.
Notes
Llywydd is the title of the Presiding Officer in the Senedd.
“Diolch o Galon” means “Many thanks to everyone”
* Mary Reid is a contributing editor on Lib Dem Voice. She was a councillor in Kingston upon Thames, where she is still very active with the local party, and is the Hon President of Kingston Lib Dems.
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9 Comments
Thanks Mary for this. I have seen Kirsty’s plans for schools in Wales and they are so encouragingly Liberal Democrat, it’s wonderful to read. Practical problems will no doubt occur, but the spirit of her new proposals for Wales are so much better than what we still face in England, not because of the majority of thinkers, but because of the right wing conservatism of politicians.
As her speech indicates, she not only had good vision but knew how to get other people of other parties to share it and working with the teachers was able to put them into effect.
Kirsty has clearly done an excellent job as Education minister in Wales over the last four years, and based on our experience in the B&R by-elections we can confirm that it is truly a great place. However, we all know that great things can be done in government, but if you lose at the next election it can all be undone very quickly by our enemies.
I hope and pray that her legacy includes having done an equally good job in persuading Welsh voters that keeping Lib Dems elected to the Assembly in B&R is an essential part of the country’s future.
Good luck Kirsty in whatever you choose to do next.
Congratulations dear Kirsty, you have done a great job for Wales, for education & children and recovering the Lib Dem brand. Although I have moved on from the Lib Dem party and to live in Scotland (having left beautiful Pembrokeshire), I just wanted to give you “cwtsh mawr a llongyfarchiadau calonog”.
Thank you Kirsty. It is nearly 30 years since I first met Kirsty. Her friend and mentor Nick Burree was Secretary of the Welsh Party Policy Committee, which I chaired at that time. He invited her to attend the meeting. At the end of the meeting, I mentioned to Nick that I thought that we had put Kirsty off the Party. Nick demurred.
I am so glad that I was wrong.
Sadly, BBC Question Time ‘from Cardiff’ has Claire Fox (!) and Nigel Owens … but no LD. Not even KIrsty.
That’s how far the party has fallen guys.
A Baronness who once lived in Wales and a rugby referee are deemed more significant to the national conversation than we are. It’s truly depressing but largely deserved.
I do feel that after reading the comments on the speech from Ed Davey in the House of Commons, it most certainly was very positive.
Johnson says, that greed and wishing to make capitalism the answer to success. Cronyism is the answer in his mind, It depends where you stand on being transparent.
I look forward to learning in what direction Kirsty’s talents will go next. It would be to all our misfortune if she leaves politics, an area in which she still has so much to offer. As the voice of Welsh independence rises again, it is important that rational voices are heard above the noise.
If Kirsty doesn’t use the next five weeks to promote Welsh Liberal Democrat values and policies – now that she’s in a better position to do so – then I really don’t care what she get’s up to after the election.