Welsh Liberal Democrats unveil Senedd election manifesto
TL;DR
The Welsh Liberal Democrats have launched their manifesto for the upcoming Senedd election, pledging £300m for social care and childcare support. Leader Jane Dodds aims to improve on the party's 2021 performance, where she was the only member elected.
Key points
- Welsh Liberal Democrats launched manifesto for Senedd election
- Jane Dodds promises £300m investment in social care
- Election scheduled for May 7 with 96 new members to be elected
The Welsh Liberal Democrats have launched their manifesto for next month's Senedd election.
Leader Jane Dodds promised to protect the NHS by investing £300m in social care, extra help for childcare, and to ensure that "not a penny" is spent on moves towards Wales leaving the United Kingdom.
The party is hoping to improve on 2021's result, when Dodds was returned as the only Welsh Liberal Democrat with a Senedd seat.
Voters across Wales go to the polls to elect 96, up from 60, new Senedd members on 7 May.
Despite only having one member of the Senedd, Jane Dodds has been involved in budget negotiations with the Welsh government in the past and says she would be willing to do so again.
The politician secured a greyhound racing ban, more money for childcare and discount bus travel in 2025's round of budget talks.
However the Welsh Liberal Democrat leader has warned that in return for her support no cash should be spent on moving towards Welsh independence.
That would potentially rule a deal out with Plaid Cymru, which is vying to win the election with Reform and has pledged to establish a national committee to begin preparing the case for independence, costing £500,000.
The Welsh Lib Dems have promised a universal childcare package of 30 hours a week, covering 48 weeks of the year, for all children from nine months to four years old.
Dodds' party has vowed to clear up Wales' rivers and seas, with extra funding for Natural Resources Wales and a ban on bonuses for water company bosses until sewage discharges end.
The party has had a fight on its hands to stay on the Welsh political stage over the last decade, having fallen to a single MS in 2016.
Dodds, a former MP, was elected to the Senedd for the first time in 2021 but remained the parliament's only Liberal Democrat.
She says the party could win five seats - which would be enough to form an official Senedd group.
Q&A
What are the key pledges in the Welsh Liberal Democrats' manifesto?
The manifesto includes a £300m investment in social care and additional support for childcare.
When is the Senedd election in Wales?
The Senedd election is scheduled for May 7, when voters will elect 96 new members.
Who is the leader of the Welsh Liberal Democrats?
The leader of the Welsh Liberal Democrats is Jane Dodds.
