Kirsty will be making her keynote speech in an hour or so. She always speaks with such warmth and passion and sensitivity so I’m really looking forward to it.

Last night at the opening Conference rally, she was in great form. Here’s her speech from that event in full:

Before we begin, I just wanted to point something out to you.

Every single one of the people who’ve spoken tonight are women.

In fact, all the candidates in our most gainable seats are female

Eluned Parrott in Cardiff Central

Elizabeth Evans in Ceredigion

Veronica German leading the regional list in South East Wales

And Jane Dodds in Montgomeryshire too.

All of them in seats we want to win.

All of them chosen by local members on their own merits.

All of them outstanding local champions, whose communities would be well served with them as Assembly Members.

[pause]

Now, you’ll get to hear much more from me tomorrow up in Cardiff Met about the fresh ideas Welsh Liberal Democrats have for Wales.

But this rally is about winning for our communities.

Yes, I love my party and I’m incredibly proud to be your Leader,

But I love my community too.

Because the people of Brecon and Radnorshire care about their area, and they care about one another.

They work together to make things happen.

Whether it’s coming together to save Glasbury’s public toilets

or saving the Crickhowell Corn Exchange from closure.

It’s that collective action to make their communities a better place to be.

But it must be said, these characteristics aren’t unique to my part of the world.

Every single community in Wales has that ability, local people have those instincts in them.

But it is our role,

as believers of localism, as local champions, as liberals,

to enable communities to act in this way.

To bring out the best of our neighbourhoods.

Because a nation is only as good as the sum of its parts.

And if we want Wales to be the best it can be,

then we will only achieve it by enabling our communities to be the best they can be too.

As I’ve already said, I care about the people I represent so much.

Which is why it disheartens me so much to say that Brecon and Radnorshire is worse off since we lost our Welsh Lib Dem MP.

The dedication and hard work of Roger Williams over fifteen years stood our communities in good stead.

He, and his team of able staff, were always there for his constituents, and willing to help anyone who needed it.

Let me be clear: I don’t blame local people for last May.

The Tories’ message, drumming up the fear of an SNP tail wagging a Labour dog, was hard to resist.

But I’d be lying if I told you that there wasn’t a sense of regret among many of the people I’ve spoken to recently.

And to be honest, I don’t blame them for that either.

Because our new Conservative MP hasn’t even been in the job a year, but he’s already letting local people down.

He seems all too willing to say one thing, then do another.

You could call him an EVEL Tory…

..you know, English Votes for English Laws?

Our Tory MP spoke in the Westminster debate about it.

He raised the very valid issue of cross-border healthcare, pointing out that many of his constituents – or “refugees” as David Davies calls them – rely on NHS services in England.

He admitted that he would, and I quote, “in effect lose my voice on matters across the border.”

Yet what did he do?

He voted in favour of it.

He willingly allowed his ability to influence services that his constituents rely on day in, day out, to be restricted.

Can you believe it?

Having a Tory MP who willingly votes away his own influence,

his own ability to stand up for local people,

is not in the best interests of my constituents.

And they certainly don’t need another Tory ‘yes man’ in the Assembly either.

Brecon and Radnorshire needs an AM with proven experience.

An AM who’s not afraid to work with others to achieve for local people.

An AM with a track record of getting things done.

That’s exactly what I’ve aspired to be over the sixteen years that I’ve represented Brecon and Radnor.

Over 24,000 problems and issues solved for local people.

It isn’t half hard work, but it isn’t half rewarding too.

When Powys council launch an attack on Brecon and Radnor’s schools,

Closing them down come what may,

It isn’t right.

I’ve been fighting hard alongside local councillors and campaigners to keep schools like Gwernyfed, Nantmel, Llanbiste, and Dolau open.

Welsh Liberal Democrats recognise the value of these rural schools.

And it’s not like we haven’t got form on this.

Back in those days of Partnership Government in Cardiff Bay,

we secured extra cash to keep these smaller village schools open.

Keeping these vital resources at the heart of our towns and villages.

Ensuring children could get an education without travelling for miles on end every single day.

And that’s what I’ll continue to fight for in Brecon and Radnorshire,

and the heart of your communities is what you all should fight for too.

The local school, the local pub, the local bank.

Don’t let them leave, because all too often, once they’re gone… they’re gone.

Then again, you don’t need me to tell you all to do that, do you?

Because you’re Welsh Liberal Democrats. It’s in your blood!

You’re already practicing community champions.

And I’m very proud to be supported by perfect examples of community champion wherever I go as leader.

Whether it’s any one of our excellent team of Assembly Members and candidates,

or whether it’s people like Cllr Rob Walsh in Wrexham who sweep to victory in a by-election on a wave of local support.

We are a proud party,

proud of our record,

proud of delivering for our communities.

You know, Welsh Liberal Democrats have the deepest roots of any Welsh party,

But we also have the deepest roots in our own communities.

Not only are we the founders of proper pavement politics,

But no other party does it like we do.

No other party can combine that pure community activism with a true vision that will help local people.

Not Plaid, who’s ruthless centralising agenda will leave Welsh people with no say over their community.

Not the Tories, who are too busy doing Westminster’s bidding to stand up for local people.

Not UKIP, who’s divisive rhetoric will drive a wedge between our communities at the very time we should be standing together, united.

And don’t even get me started on Labour’s record… I’ll save that one for tomorrow.

Only the Welsh Liberal Democrats have the fresh ideas needed to win for our communities.

Revitalising our local high streets.

Helping GP surgeries stay open for longer.

Giving local people more power over their own lives.

And it’s only the Welsh Liberal Democrats who have the team of strong community champions to deliver for local people.

Not just Elizabeth, Veronica and Eluned here, but all our other candidates too.

Their combined knowledge and experience is second to none, making them able to stand up for every single person in Wales.

Doesn’t matter if you’re young or old,

You live in an urban or rural community,

Employed or not,

Black or white,

Male / female / straight / gay and everything in between.

The Welsh Liberal Democrats will put you at the heart of our plan for Wales.

Putting people first.

And if that’s what you want for your community,

If that’s what you want for your nation,

I need you to go out there and work for it.

Knock those doors

Deliver those leaflets

Pound those pavements

Work until everyone in your community knows that the Welsh Liberal Democrats are standing up for them.

If you do that, we truly will win for our communities,

And deliver change for a better Wales. Thank you.

* Caron Lindsay is Editor of Liberal Democrat Voice and blogs at Caron's Musings. You can find her on Bluesky at caronmlindsay.bsky.social