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Jane Dodds has declared her intention to step down as leader of the Welsh Liberal Democrats. Although she will continue to serve as the party’s sole Member of the Senedd (MS), she emphasized that expanding the party’s representation in Wales’ parliament should be the responsibility of a fresh generation.
In a statement released Tuesday, Dodds reflected on her time in leadership, describing it as “the honour of my life,” and expressed her belief that “now is the right time” to pass the role on to someone new. Currently, only David Chadwick, the Welsh Liberal Democrat MP, is eligible to be nominated as her successor.
Since 2016, the Liberal Democrats have had just one representative in Cardiff Bay—initially Kirsty Williams, the former Welsh Lib Dem leader, followed by Dodds, who took over in 2021. Dodds represents Brycheiniog Tawe Nedd and has a background as a social worker. She was appointed as the Welsh party leader in November 2017 and gained attention last year for negotiating with the previous Welsh Labour government to secure a ban on greyhound racing and introduce £1 bus fares for under-21s, in exchange for supporting the government’s budget.
The nomination period to replace Dodds will begin on 23 October and conclude on 16 November. Reflecting on the future of the party, Dodds stated, “Wales needs more than one liberal voice in the Senedd. Building that team will take years of hard work in communities across the country, and I believe that work should be led by a new generation.” Tim Sly, Welsh Liberal Democrat president, praised Dodds for leading with “warmth, determination and integrity” during challenging political times and thanked her for strengthening the party’s foundations for future growth
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