Kirsty Williams has announced that she is standing down as Leader of the Welsh Liberal Democrats, following the bruising results in the Assembly election. She explained here:
I can’t tell you how much of a privilege it has been to serve this party as leader over the last eight years, but with that privilege comes responsibility. Despite our best efforts, and a positive campaign, it has not been enough.
And for that, I must take responsibility.
In these new circumstances, the party will want to reflect and consider the way forward and that will require new leadership. So today I’m announcing my resignation as leader of the Welsh Liberal Democrats.
The party will be making a further announcement about the leadership once the National Executive Committee has met tomorrow afternoon.
Despite last night’s disappointing result, I remain heartened that over the last 12 months more and more new members have joined the Welsh Liberal Democrats. In time, I know this will show through in election results too.
I am proud people continue to sign up to be part of the Welsh Liberal Democrat family – one forged in its collective optimism, passion and sheer bloody-mindedness.
No-one is an accidental Welsh Liberal. It’s not passed down the generations with unquestioned loyalty. It’s not an easy route to changing Wales for the better.
Nor is it a safe seat for life. But that just makes those victories we have even sweeter: changing the educational opportunities for the most disadvantaged pupils; delivering more apprenticeships so young people can make better lives for themselves; making our NHS better and safer with more nurses; the list goes on.
No-one can tell me the Welsh Liberal Democrats haven’t made a difference.
While I don’t regret the decision we took as a party in 2010 to enter into coalition, on days like this, it is only human to question our sacrifice. I am hugely disappointed to lose my colleagues Aled, Eluned, Peter, and William in the Assembly, all of whom were excellent Assembly Members and all of whom I know will continue to make a positive difference in their communities.
I feel confident in saying that the Welsh Liberal Democrats have always punched way above our weight in the Assembly at holding the Welsh Government to account. That has only been possible due to the fantastic behind the scenes teams we have always had, and for whose work I will forever be thankful.
And of course, most of all I would like to thank my family. They have been my rock throughout the last eight years.
It’s not easy living with a politician, let alone the leader of a political party, but they have always stood by me, especially when times have got tough.
While it is my intention to stand down as leader I am proud that the people of Brecon and Radnorshire once more put their faith in me to represent them. When I return to the Assembly, while Welsh Liberal Democrat voices may not be as numerous as before, the people of Brecon and Radnorshire can be assured that their voice will be heard louder than ever.
I’m sure pundits will give us a fuller picture of events over the next few days, yet it is clear that the rise of Ukip shows that the politics of blame and resentment is catching on here in Wales. This is not the Wales I know.
Liberals believe that diversity and tolerance is a strength, not a weakness. People who think likewise, across all parties, need to unite and not turn a blind eye.
We have a fight on our hands to ensure fear doesn’t win the day.
When I became leader back in 2008, I spoke of the flame of liberty that once shone so brightly in Wales and of my intention to re-ignite it. The truth is that the stormy political weather tested the endurance of that flame, but it hasn’t been extinguished.
It may not be burning as brightly as it once did, but we must never let it extinguish. The road to recovery is a long one, but a rewarding one too, and I have every faith that the Welsh Liberal Democrats will once again do what we do best: fight for our communities across Wales.
* 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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19 Comments
Kirsty, you have been an excellent leader and I do not believe that it’s your fault the result was so disappointing. We are going through distressing times for UK democracy – not merely for the Lib Dems. I believe our media has lost the plot and the public have been pushed away from thoughtful, intelligent politics such as yours. Instead, they have been sold snack soundbite, headline grabbing scandal politics. It will take time but it will change for the better. I hope that you will remain a central part of Liberal Democrat politics and wish you nothing but the best.
this is sad, but hopefully there’ll be other opportunities for kirsty soon.
I heard Kirsty’s acceptance speech in the early hours this morning – it was one of the best I have ever heard.
Actually what she has done and said since then is entirely honourable and sensible.
Of course this is what the Federal Leader of the Party should have done in June 2011.
I hope a careful review will be conducted and, as seems likely, it is found that her continuing leadership is seen to be in the best interests of the Party in Wales and beyond, she can be persuaded to continue.
I feel genuinely angry about this Kirsty is a fine leader a great voice for our party. There is nothing she could have done about this. The UKIP situation is not of her making. Really sad she’s gone.
So Wales elects Neil Hamilton and UKIP (because the EU has done absolutely NOTHING for Wales of course!!!) and rejects the LibDems, I utterly despair
Very sad news. Kirsty is not responsible for the poor results as her own personal triumph showed. It is also a shame this has been done today.
Oh dear Lord! The Lib Dems cannot afford to lose the outstanding Kirsty Williams as a senior and prominent voice in the country. Please someone sort this out.
I have nothing bad to say about Kirsty, but I think she has made the right decision here. I said last night my three suggested topics for discussion (before the results had come in) were a new leader in Scotland, a new leader in Wales and less of a core vote strategy nationally. Although I must emphasise the first two were suggested topics for discussion only, not demands, and it seems Willie Rennie has done quite well.
I also want to add a fourth topic: what can we learn from those who did well? But this is mainly about Kirsty and she should be thanked for stepping forward and doing a good job.
Kirsty Williams was a large part of the reason I voted Lib Dem’s yesterday and it is sad that she has stepped down as leader; what a fantastic politician she is and hopefully that will still shine through for many years to come.
One of our finest. Never not be inspired by her dedication to the Liberal cause.
Whilst I understand the sentiments express by Bill le Bretton, I do feel it right she stands aside. Not that I don’t hold her in the highest regard, I do – but to be the only AM and leader is a heavy burden and would limit the chance of other voices in the party to be seen by the public and help raise their profile for future elections. As our AM she will still be a very public voice of the party and will continue to do us proud.
Also, eight years is a long period of service – Kirsty and her family deserve to have more time together after that period of dedicated service.
Here’s hoping that in 2020 though we will see the election of Kirsty Williams MP.
In keeping with colleagues, tribute must be paid to real service on the part of Kirsty Williams .If personal desire to pause from the hustle and bustle of Wales nationwide , and concentrate on her constituency ,is her motive , or to enjoy more of her personal life , whatever the reason , we applaud her.If it is because she feels responsible for the result , she is honourable but , mistaken , UKIP and Neil Hamilton in the Assembly and not the mainstream Liberal Democrats , really is not of her making !What a result ! Thanks to all our candidates for their effort.
Just to echo “it wasn’t Kirsty’s fault”.
Labour’s vote dropped the most by far (-7.6%) and most of that has to have gone to Ukip – without damaging Labour, because of the way the list system works.
Ukip threw all their weight into this election, with rallies and visits by Farage getting local media coverage other parties didn’t.
I can’t wait to see what contribution our new Ukip AMs will make to Wales. I suspect it will barely trouble the record books.
CassieB:
I have supported devolution and proportional representation for decades but when I see the likes of Neil Hamilton (!!!!*) entering the Welsh Assembly and the general quality of Kipper MEPs (plus the income/expenses they are receiving for what they actually do in Strasbourg!), I am ever more convinced that these two things need to be considered very carefully indeed. Germany had the finest, more democratic constitution ever conceived between the years 1919 and 1933. (*Re. Hamilton, it is no surprise whatsoever that the Kippers (and Farage in particular) invested everything they had in getting him “elected” in Wales. Farage knows full well that he is something between a joke and a liability and “parking” him in Cardiff for five years will keep him well away from England.)
Forgot to add in the above how sad I was to hear the news about Kirsty stepping down as well. I always thought her speeches were one of the highpoints of any LD federal conference and that she really “told it like it was” (e.g. at Bournemouth when she made it perfectly clear “the electorate was simply not listening any more” (to anything whatsoever we had to say) post-Tuition Fees under the Coalition). In a way, she is a delayed victim of those times (plus other things, particularly the crisis over steel, I should imagine), but the consolation from yesterday’s results is that we and the Kippers are the only ones really on the move (http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/election/2016/councils) and that, unlike the Kippers (a true “anti-party” if ever there was one), we actually stand for something and are not just an expression of bitterness, frustration and anger plus will not implode post-23 June but will actually be even stronger.
I have never met Kirsty, and I am not Welsh, but I have honestly found her to be one of the most inspiring leaders of our party in the last few years. And my opinion of her has grown over the last 2 days. She was clearly very emotional on Thursday night, yet spoke with such courage and dignity. The people who know her best are the voters of B&R and their verdict is pretty clear. The party in Wales will recover and Kirsty must be a key part of that. I have no doubt she has a lot to contribute in future years. But for now we should all just say Thankyou Kirsty for all your amazing work for our party, not just in Wales but across the UK.
Kirsty is one of the very best of our national politicians. Passionate about her politics, a great communicator, rooted in her community and unlike some not afraid to tell her own Party when it was going wrong.
Neither the Welsh Lib Dems or the UK Party can afford to lose the Leadership of such a talented and sincere politician.
Kirsty is the victim of “Gutter Politics”…..Having ‘civilised’ beliefs appears to be outmoded…I watched a few voters being interviewed regarding the rise of UKIP and the word “immigration” (in it’s vilest form) was a driving force…
It might be an ‘over the top’ remarks but, an electorate that endorses a Neil Hamilton, doesn’t deserve a Kirsty Williams.
It is a very, very sad day for Liberal Democrats in Wales. Our constituency share of the vote is down by a quarter from 10.6% to 7.7% and the regional list share is down at 6.5%. We are now the fifth party in Wales and it seems only big names like Willie Rennie, Caroline Pidgeon, and Kirstie can get elected for us in major elections.
None of the Welsh Lib Dems deserved what has happened to them, but as Bill makes it clear, the disaster of Nick Clegg’s leadership over the five years in coalition, which the Welsh Lib Dems held on against the tide in 2012, that has finally put paid to so many good people.
The fact he never considered resignation until it was too late and no-one had the courage to push him, is the reason we are where we are.
The question remains, ‘How do we show the electorate we have put clear water between ourselves and the disastrous mistakes made by Nick in coalition, before the electorate do it for us by putting Liberal Democracy on the scrapheap of history?’ Because one thing is clear, we haven’t done it yet.
Apologies Kirsty – not Kirstie.