Tag Archives: welsh liberal democrat conference 2016

Kirsty Williams’ speech to Welsh Conference: Community, better public services and a new initiative to Ask Wales

By Caron Lindsay | Sun 7th February 2016 - 9:45 am

Below is Kirsty Williams’ keynote speech to Welsh Liberal Democrat Conference. It’s a good read,

Dream

Conference: ‘I had a dream’

Okay… you may have heard that one before, but as we head into our 5th set of elections since the start of the Assembly, I think back to the time it was first established

I was excited. Enthusiastic. Full of hope.

We had a dream.

Liberals had been fighting for Home Rule for over a hundred years. This was our chance.

You know, I made my first media appearance during the run up to the ’97 referendum. I had the midnight shift – being interrogated by Andrew Neil.

Sure, I was nervous, of course I was.

I couldn’t quite believe I was sitting next to these professional politicians, who I’d only ever seen on the telly.

But what overrode my nerves was excitement.

We were on the cusp of achieving all that we had hoped for

We’d campaigned for over 100 years for this moment. For Welsh devolution. To bring power closer to the people.

Nearly two decades later, and ask yourself – has that happened?