Lib Dem By-Election WIN!

Yes, you read that right.

The Liberal Democrats in Ceredigion today won a by-election in Aberystwyth. It will not have been highlighted on the major election blogs because it was not a unitary vacancy on the County Council. But a victory in the Rheidol Ward by-election for Aberystwyth Town Council is nevertheless a welcome thing.

The by-election was called when former Liberal Democrat Town Councillor Martin Shewring resigned from the party and from the Town Council recently but decided to stand in the ensuing by-election as an Independent.

Tonight, he lost as the Liberal Democrat candidate Wendy Morris-Twiddy, the daughter of former Aberystwyth Mayor Mona Morris, won the seat back for the Liberal Democrats.

The final vote:

Timothy Foster (Green Party) - 36
Samantha Jane Mackenzie-Grieve (Plaid Cymru) - 57
Wendy Elizabeth Morris-Twiddy (Welsh Liberal Democrats) - 135
Martin Shewring (Independent) - 108

Spoilt - 2

Majority - 28

Well done to Wendy and to the Liberal Democrat team in Aberystwyth - a sterling effort!

Lembit Opik Apologises for Mick Bates Slur

Earlier this morning, Peter Black AM led a justified attack on Lembit Opik for accusing his former Welsh Assembly Montgomeryshire colleague Mick Bates of being the reason why he lost his Montgomeryshire seat back in May last year. Peter's angry riposte can be read here.

Mick Mates and Lembit Opik in happier times

During the course of the day, Lembit has responded by refuting the rebuttal information that was put out on his behalf as a part of his London Mayoral campaign by claiming that it was published without his authority, presumably by a member of his campaign team. His reply for the Western Mail can be read here.

In a comment to Peter's initial post, a former member of Lembit's Montgomeryshire constituency staff puts up a legitimate defence for his former employer and goes on to state why he will lose the nomination for the Mayoralty.

In Paul's own words...

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"Lembit will lose the nomination to be the party's candidate in London like he did the 2008 Presidency, not because there is a better more well suited candidate (that's a debate for another time), but because he's chosen to surround himself by a small group of friends (namely Eric Joyce) who tell him what he wants to hear and do as he says, none of whom are experienced in campaigning, messaging, strategy & direction or communications all of something you need if you want to win. None of these people have the guts to stand up turn the problem around and say, "look we've got a problem here, if we want to win, we need to do this, this and that."

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Paul knows his stuff so I'll take his word for it. The named individual I think is actually Ed Joyce and he has been denounced on Lib Dem message boards over the past 36 hours for the way in which he responds to every slight on Lembit's character.

Is it he who has apparently written this rebuttal piece without Lembit's say-so or somebody else? Whoever it may be, Lembit needs to sort it and his media strategy out before his campaign is blown to pieces before it's even out of the blocks.

A Parrott in the Welsh Assembly!

That's Eluned Parrott, the Welsh Assembly's newest member, of course!

After what has been a fraught few months for the Welsh Liberal Democrats, culminating in the vote on Aled Roberts' re-instatment to the Assembly yesterday, I think it's time as a naturally glass half-full type, to accentuate the positive.

Eluned Parrott AM

Eluned Parrott AM

Few outside of Welsh Liberal Democrat circles are likely to have been aware of Eluned before her sudden elevation to the Assembly as she swore her oath yesterday as John Dixon's replacement. But this excellent article from today's Western Mail shows that she has bags of experience not only in the real world as a community engagement manager at Cardiff University but also, as a mother of two young children.

As a young 30 something with worldy experience, she has a particular passion for education and will be an excellent addition to Kirsty Williams' team in Cardiff Bay.

An essential character trait as she enters the Assembly alongside Peter Black and that collection of ties, will be a sense of humour! But we're ok because as Eluned herself explained when saying that she enjoys sport, she "is a very poor cricket player" but I'm nevertheless confident that she'll be bowling a few googlies towards her political opponents over the years to come!

Good luck Eluned. The Welsh Assembly's South Wales Central region, comprising as it does the constituencies of Cardiff Central, Cardiff North, Cardiff South and Penarth, Cardiff West, Cynon Valley, Pontypridd, Rhondda and the Vale of Glamorgan are I'm confident, in safe and capable hands.

Natural Justice for Aled Roberts AM

It's been a tough day.

I've not long returned from the funeral of a close family friend who will be dearly missed by everyone who knew her.

I at least returned to the good news that Aled Roberts has been re-instated to the Welsh Assembly after a vote by his fellow Assembly Members (including the newly elected Eluned Parrott AM).

The Elias Report, without saying so in so many words, exonerated him from any blame for the mess that has surrounded the Assembly over the past two months. It was clear for any reasonable person, that natural justice should be served and that the error made by the Electoral Commission should be expunged by this vote.


Aled Roberts AM



Whilst I'm delighted that he won the simple majority necessary, I can not comprehend how 20 of his colleagues still voted against him. The final score after a free vote, was 30 in favour, 20 against and 3 abstentions. The tally sheet can be found here.

Of those who voted against, 14 were from the Labour ranks and 6 from the Conservative benches. I am personally disappointed that Labour's Llanelli AM Keith Davies voted against as I'd heard that he was going to vote in favour. I also feel let down by the Conservative interim leader Paul Davies' vote against having previously spoken high of him in the past in this blog.

It's interesting that of the 3 that abstanined, two of them were Plaid Cymru's leadership possibilities Elin Jones and Simon Thomas. They were joined by Labour's Huw Lewis. My comment here is why abstain? If you're bloody stupid enough to vote against then so be it. But abstain? Can't you make up your mind on the issue one way or the other?

Either way, for those who did the right thing in voting back into the Assembly a decent and honourable human being, they have my great respect. For those who didn't, they have gone down in my estimation.

An Honourable Decision - John Dixon Stands Down

Welsh Liberal Democrat leader Kirsty Williams AM, has just made this announcement with regards to the 'Lib Dem 2':

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“Tomorrow, Assembly Members will be asked to consider whether it is proper to lift the disqualification of Aled Roberts and John Dixon. The advice of Gerard Elias QC enables them to do so with regard to the facts of each case.

“The Elias report treats each case differently, since the circumstances are very different.

“In the case of Aled Roberts, Gerard Elias has confirmed that ‘at each stage of his selection and nomination process, Aled Roberts followed the guidance provided to him by the Electoral Commission and mirrored on the National Assembly website’. He also confirms that the information provided to him referred him to incorrect guidance. Finally, he says that he finds that ‘Aled Roberts did eveything that he could reasonably been expected to do in ensuring that he was not a disqualified person.’

“Gerard Elias also deals with the fact that the guidance offered to Aled Roberts in the medium of Welsh was incorrect and states that ‘he was entitled to assume that the Welsh version would mirror the English version at all times and in every respect.’

“I would like to welcome the statement by the Electoral Commission who have acknowleged their error and offered an apology.

“It is clear that this is a case of enormous importance to the future of the equality of the Welsh language, to the reputation of the Assembly and to Welsh devolution. I will do everything I can to perasuade colleagues that Aled Roberts should take his rightful place in the Assembly. Based on the contents of the Elias report, it is hard to see how any reasonable person could conclude otherwise.

John Dixon

“In the case of John Dixon, Gerard Elias concludes that “he honestly believed that he was eligible to be a member of the National Assembly”. However, he also concludes that he had a responsibility to check the Order but did not do so. I have already accepted the responsibility that the Welsh Liberal Democrats share in this failiure.

“It has always been my view that the disqualification of both men should be lifted. Whatever the rights and wrongs of either case, to impose a ban on either from taking up their seats represents a punishment out of proportion to any error made.

“However, given that Gerard Elias’ report makes clear that the responsiblity to check the Order rested with John Dixon, I do not believe that there is any likelihood of a majority of Assembly Members being persuaded to disregard the disqualification.

“It is with huge regret therefore that the Welsh Liberal Democrats, with John’s agreement, have decided to withdraw the motion to disregard the disqualification of John Dixon.

“John has already served the public diligently and with distinction on Cardiff Council. I have no doubt that would have been an enormously effective and hard working Assembly Member. He is paying a very high price for his mistake. It is personal tragedy for him and I desperately wish that it were different. But I cannot change the facts any more than I can change the opinions of Assembly Members.

“I hope now that Assembly Members will now be able to focus on the case of Aled Roberts and ensure that justice is done.”

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It is with great regret that it has come to this as John Dixon would've made a fine Assembly Member. The fact that the WLGA leader Cllr John Davies said as much during the recent WLGA conference speaks volumes.

Eluned Parrott

I think that John has made an extremely honourable decision to fall on his sword at this point instead of forcing it through to a vote in the Assembly Chamber tomorrow afternoon. It was a mistake that was made that brought about this situation but not one that would've brought any financial gain. We are all human and this is a personal tragedy for John and for the South Wales Central region because he would've served its residents with great distinction.

He and the region are at least blessed in the knowledge that he will be replaced with Eluned Parrott who I know will be an excellent replacement. Married and with a young family, Eluned will be a new personaility within the Assembly Chamber and I know that she will do her region and her party, proud.

Aled Roberts

Aled Roberts

This leaves us with the morale battle to re-instate Aled Roberts to the Assembly tomorrow afternoon.

As Kirsty has said in her statement, the report shows that Aled was innocent of any wrong-doing and that it was the Electoral Commission's error that brought about this regretable situation.

That criticial line again in the report:

"Aled Roberts did eveything that he could reasonably been expected to do in ensuring that he was not a disqualified person".

As Kirsty added: "Based on the contents of the Elias report, it is hard to see how any reasonable person could conclude otherwise".

Carl Sargeant, the WLGA Conference and Ceredigion's Party Political Truce

For a dew days this past week, I was down in Swansea for the Welsh Local Government Association annual conference.

Ceredigion County Council usually sends up to 10 delegates, comprising mainly of elected members and some officials. I've never attended before in my 8 years on the County Council but as the newly elected Vice Chair of Council, felt that it was worthwhile for me to put my name forward.

So, along with fellow Welsh Liberal Democrat colleague Cllr Paul Hinge, the Independent Leader and Deputy Leader of Council Cllr Keith Evans and Cllr Ray Quant and the Leader and Deputy Leader of the Plaid Cymru opposition Cllr Ellen ap Gwynne and Cllr Paul James as well Plaid Cymru Councillors Ian ap Dewi and Lyndon Lloyd, I spent an informative few days at the heart of Welsh Local Government.

The Speakers
The main conference was on Thursday and was chaired by the BBC journalist Rhun ap Iorwerth . We heard first of all from First Minister Carwyn Jones and then from his Local Government Minister Carl Sargeant. Now I have some time for Mr Sargeant because unlike some of his predecessors, I feel that he at least has a feeling for local government having been a Councillor previously before he was elected to the Assembly. The fact that he turned up to the pre-conference reception the evening before as an example, for a small thing, went down well. His message though was quite forthright and he pulled no punches.


Carl Sargeant AM

Councils must collaborate closer with each other to ensure a better level of service and for better value was the thrust of his speech. If we didn't do so quickly enough, he would willingly legislate to do so. But how? By forcing upon us the local government re-organisation which he stated was not on the table at this time? He had I felt a reasonable reception for his words but then those that were expressed immediately following in the panel debate afterwards by Welsh Liberal Democrat leader Kirsty Williams AM, Plaid Cymru's Rhodri Glyn Thomas AM and the Conservatives' Janet Finch-Saunders AM were even better received and they were critical of his no nonsense stance.

Because here's the thing. Councils are collaborating (what an awful word with negative war-time conotations!) with each other more so than ever before and here in Ceredigion we can see that with greater workings with Powys on issues such as Social Services and Highways related matters. No one size solution fits all here so his protestations were perhaps ill-placed no matter how well meaning his sentiments may have been.

We had a speech as well from the leader of the WLGA, the Independent leader of Pembrokeshire County Council Cllr John Davies. John spoke very well and also spoke magmanimously for Aled Roberts and John Dixon - two former hard-working members of the WLGA who face a critical week in their political lives as they wait to see whether the Assembly re-instate them as Assembly Member this coming Wednesday. John also announced his intention to stand down as leader of both the WLGA and of Pembrokeshire County Council when those terms end next May. I was surprised to hear him say that but then I'm told that he did state back in 2004 that he would only serve two terms as leader of Pembrokeshire County Council and he's keeping to his word. It was a very statesmanlike speech though I probably should declare an interest here as John is my second cousin!

We had an useful workshop on collaboration in the afternoon and another panel discussion, this time on Wales' political place within the United Kingdom. In all, it was a worthwhile and productive day.

A Party Political Truce
What was also very pleasant was the atmosphere surrounding the conference. As a Ceredigion unit, we were all stationed in the Ramada Hotel (after the Marriott Hotel admitted to over-booking and having to move our reservation!) and on the Wednesday evening following the pre-conference reception, we all came back to the Ramada for a meal. I'd been told that in years past, the Ceredigion contingent would always eat together in perfect harmony even though as members of opposing political parties and none, we'd often bark at each other across the Council Chamber floor from time-to-time.

But the atmosphere between us all was great and it followed the following evening at the formal Conference Dinner at the Marriott when again, 7 of Councillors along with our Chief Executive Bronwen Morgan, all had an enjoyable evening in each others company. This is how it should be because the one bound that unified us all there was a desire to serve our respective wards and its residents in the county of Ceredigion.

It must be said that I don't think that every Council in Wales could've done the same as us. I certainly saw Powys share a table to their credit but I very much doubt what with all of the seemingly personal animosity between the main protagonists that the same could be said of Carmarthenshire.

Indeed, the evening and conference finished very nicely with an impromptu gathering of enthusiastic singers from across Wales and from across the party political spectrum in the corner of the bar as we sang Welsh hymns, rugby songs and popular tunes from popular culture. A rather surreal but enjoyable part of it was harmonising with a Plaid Cymru Councillor from Caerphilly as we led this mini-Glee Club gathering into a rendition of the Beach Boys hit 'Sloop John B'!

We sang then that 'I want to go home', but now that I am back here a few days later in Cardigan, it'll be back to the day-to-day political reality of Ceredigion politics. But it was nice to have that truce in the WLGA conference and to remind ourselves that at the end of day, we are all just human beings doing our best for our communities.

Dear Lembit Opik, With All Due Respect, Your Opinion Doesn't Matter Here Anymore.

I've been away for a few days at the WLGA conference in Swansea. On my return, I found to my consternation this BBC Wales website article in which Lembit Opik stuck his oar into the 'Lib Dem Assembly 2' debate.

With the news yesterday that the police have found no reason to continue with their investigation, it is now hoped that AMs will vote on the issue of revoking Aled Roberts and John Dixon's expulsion from the Assembly next Wednesday.

It has been a frought number of weeks for the party in Wales and undoubtedly so for Aled and John as their political careers have hung in the balance due to the technicalities that has seen their elections questioned.

Lembit Wades In

The Welsh Liberal Democrat party and its leader Kirsty Williams has in my mind, responded well under what has been immense pressure since the news broke. It is quite right in my mind that they concentrate their efforts on ensuring that Aled and John are given every opportunity to resume their seats in Cardiff Bay.

As the Welsh Liberals Democrats have said: "...her priority was to make sure that Aled Roberts and John Dixon were treated fairly and justly".

It doesn't help when fallen names like Lembit decide to give their tup'pence worth of opinion on the matter.

How much political stock does he think he still has within the Welsh Liberal Democrats let alone within the Welsh political arena more generally? After the way he threw away one of the safest of liberal constituencies when he lost his Montgomeryshire seat last year, his words need to be taken with a great pinch of salt.

This remember is a seat that elected a Liberal / Liberal Democrat MP between 1880-1979 and between 1983-2010 - that's for 126 of the last 130 years. Although I'm sure Lembit wouldn't accept this himself and indeed I gather he doesn't, there is no doubt in my mind that the seat was lost because of his antics. The residents of Montgomeryshire, like here in Ceredigion, like hard-working grounded Members of Parliament who put the constituency first. That's why Mark Williams increased a 219 majority in 2005 to an astounding 8,324 in 2010. Lembit in latter years, was more likely to be seen on the TV or in the glossy magazines - giving the impression that his own stardom was of greater importance than serving his constituents.

So it grates to see him embroil himself in this unfortunate predicament.

What really grates is the fact that he states "I'm asking Kirsty now through your programme..."

No, Lembit. If you've got something to say, say it to Kirsty yourself instead of pandering to the press for more attention.

As the Welsh Liberal Democrat response read: "It's odd that Lembit's helpful advice has been offered through the media rather than directly".

"The Liberal Democrats are focused on making sure that Aled Roberts and John Dixon are able to take up their seats as quickly as possible and this strategy is widely endorsed by party members active in Wales."

Oh and whilst you're at it Lembit, if you're serious about being the Liberal Democrat Mayoral candidate for London, maybe you should concentrate on that?

On which matter, I've heard that Mike Tuffrey is a very good candidate. I wish him well.

Plaid Cymru Leadership: Who's Next?

Two of the main repercussions of the Welsh Assembly elections on May 5th was the demise of the leaderships of the Welsh Conservatives in the Assembly and of Plaid Cymru.

For the former, Nick Bourne was ejected from the Assembly due to a quirk in its electoral system. By winning an additional constituency in the Mid & West Wales region (Montgomeryshire from the Welsh Liberal Democrats) and holding onto the Pemrbokeshire seats it already held against expectation, Nick Bourne lost his regional seat.

Ieuan Wyn Jones

For Plaid Cymru on the other hand, long-time leader and out-going Deputy First Minister Ieuan Wyn Jones announced his intention to stand down as leader during this Assembly term after his party suffered their worst ever Assembly election result in which they slipped back to 11 seats and more symbolically, behind the Conservatives in number of seats. He stated that he was intending to stand down as leader during this term anyway and there's no reason why we should not believe him - after all, he has been leader since 2001 and is currently 62. But to his dismay, he'll be standing down amidst an electoral slump as opposed to the electoral success he'd have hoped.

Who's Next?
For the Welsh Conservative Assembly Group, a straight fight between Andrew R.T.Davies AM and Nick Ramsey AM. The winner will become the new Leader of the Opposition in the Assembly.

For Plaid Cymru, it isn't so straightforward.

To begin with, Ieuan Wyn Jones is not intending to stand down immediately but instead, after a post-election analysis on what went wrong for his party.

In the meantime, many names are being bandied around as possible replacements.

Dafydd Ellis-Thomas, the out-going Speaker of the Senedd and former leader of the party, has put his name forward as a candidate. Ceredigion's AM Elin Jones has stated that she is considering her options and newly elected Mid & West Wales Regional AM and former Ceredigion MP Simon Thomas is said to be a favourite. The same can be said for newly elected North Wales Regional AM Llyr Huws Griffiths. Out-going Heritage Minister Alun Ffred Jones is another name being touted due to having had Ministerial experience in the out-going administration as is the case with Elin Jones. Finally, many speak of Jocelyn Davies, the South East Wales Regional AM and out-going Deputy Minister for Housing as a plausible possibility.

But Who?!
So it's not as if Plaid Cymru are short of potential candidates. But who should they elect?

Well clearly, my views are those of someone who is not a member of Plaid Cymru (and is not likely to be one either!), but taking my Welsh Liberal Democrat hat off for a moment and looking in from the outside, I have some genuine thoughts on the matter.

Plaid Cymru are clearly going to want the most able candidate to take on the mantle in the years ahead. That's only right.

Looking at experience, Dafydd Ellis-Thomas as a former leader and Elin Jones and Alun Ffred Jones as former Ministers are the most likely candidates with the latter having also been a past leader of Gwynedd County Council. Jocelyn Davies also moves into this group with Deputy Ministerial experience. Simon Thomas and Llyr Huws Griffiths are spoken of as leading lights in the Plaid Cymru cause but will the fact that they are newly elected to the Assembly work against them? Quite possibly.

But presuming that all were equal, how should Plaid Cymru members decide amongst the contenders?

I see one particular issue that Plaid may consider a current obstacle if they are going to reach out to new voters who have never voted or particularly considered voting for them before - a propensity to choose its leaders from its linguistic heartlands.

A Little Plaid Cymru History...
Since World War II, Plaid Cymru's leaders have all come from its linguistic heartlands.

In 1945, Gwynfor Evans became leader of Plaid Cymru - a position he would hold for 36 years until 1981. Whilst he was born in south Wales, he represented the old constituency of Carmarthen as Plaid Cymru's first ever MP between 1966-1970 and (October) 1974-1979.

Dafydd Wigley and Dafydd Ellis-Thomas

His successor was Dafydd Wigley who led his party between 1981-1984 and 1991-2000 and who was the MP for Caernarfon between 1974-2001. In between his two spells at the helm came the above-mentioned Dafydd Ellis-Thomas who was the MP for the Meirionnydd / Meirionnydd Nant Conwy Westminster seat between 1974-1992.

Ieuan Wyn Jones took over from Dafydd Wigley in early 2001. He has been the MP (1987-2001) and AM (1999-Present) for Anglesey but stood down as President of the Party following the poor 2003 Assembly election results. He was re-elected as Assembly Group Leader but was replaced as Party President by Gwynedd Councillor and popular Welsh folk musician Dafydd Iwan. This split of party leadership however came to a tearful end and in 2010, Iwan was replaced by MEP Jill Evans as Party President. But by now, this position has become more ceremonial with the Assembly Group Leader now the de-facto 'face' of the party.

So, since 1945, all of Plaid Cymru's leaders have come from the liguistic heartlands of Wales - regions that on the whole are strong supporters of the party. For the past 30 years since 1981, they have all come from north west Wales.
If Plaid Cymru want to branch out and attract new members and if all other matters are equal, should they not consider looking at potential candidates who come from those areas which they are yet to fully cultivate?

They would probably have done so had Helen Mary Jones the out-going Deputy Leader of the Assembly Group, not lost her Llanelli seat to Labour by just 80 votes. She had been a favourite to take over as leader (and indeed she outpolled Ieuan Wyn Jones on first preference votes when she stood against him as group leader in 2003 but lost after transfers). As a female English-born Welsh learner based in south Wales, she would have broken the mould of past Plaid Cymru leaders but that is now by-the-by.


Jocelyn Davies

 But if Plaid Cymru want to extend their support out to the 70+% of Wales' population that doesn't speak Welsh, why not appoint a leader that comes from those areas or who even, dare it be said, doesn't speak Welsh?

The fact that the likes of Jocelyn Davies who doesn't speak Welsh are being touted as potential future leaders must show that there are some within the party who consider this a legitimate way forward.


It's one for Plaid Cymru members to ponder in the months ahead. It'll be interesting to see what they decide.

I Agree with a Plaid MP...sort of.

It does happen from time to time believe it or not althought the fact that Plaid Cymru only have 3 MPs means that by default, there is relatively little to agree or disagree with.

All the same, I found myself agreeing with the new Carmarthen East & Dinefwr MP, Jonathan Edwards when he challenged the UK Government last week to change the way in which Welsh Assembly members are elected.

Jonathan Edwards MP

As this Western Mail article states, Jonathan has requested that the Government considers the possibility of future Assembly Members being elected with an equal share of 30 AMs from constituencies and 30AMs from the regional lists. This would replace the current 40AM / 20AM split at present.

I agree with this new way of thinking because it would chime with the planned re-organisation of Parliamentary boundaries which is likely to see the number of Welsh MPs elected to Westminster reduced from the current 40, down to 30.

My biggest concern with this legislation currently going through Parliament is that unless alterations were made at a Cardiff Bay level, there would be different sized constituencies electing MPs and AMs and there could be great confusion. As an example, if the Boundary Commission decided that the new Ceredigion Westminster seat would extend to incorporate the parts of north Pembrokeshire that it used to cover in the 1980s and 1990s, then my maternal family living in and around Eglwyswrw would vote for an MP who covers an area up to and beyond Aberystwyth whilst electing an AM (on the current Preseli Pembrokeshire electoral boundaries) who represents down to Milford Haven and Neyland in southern Pembrokeshire.

This to me makes little sense and Jonathan's comments if carried through, would eradicate this problem as the co-terminus link between Westminster and Cardiff Bay electoral boundaries would remain the same (whichever way they may look by 2015).

Better Proportionality
In addition, by compensating for this loss of 10 constituency AMs by filling the void by extending the amount elected on the regional lists, it should help to further increase the proportionality of votes cast, to seats attained by different political parties in the Assembly.

So in theory, I wholly agree with Jonathan's sentiments.

Indeed, when he raised the question in the House of Commons to the Welsh Secretary Cheryl Gillan, she responded by saying:

"I am taking (Mr Edwards') question as a recommendation that we have 30 first-past-the-post seats and 30 elected on a list system, and I will look seriously at that suggestion".

So it is not at all inconceivable that this idea could be taken forward in the future.

Don't Make it Political
However, what frustrated me and doesn't do Jonathan's worthy cause any help was the way in which he phrased the issue.

On his website here, the Press Release that covered the question and response in Westminster was titled 'End Labour Assembly Bias'. He makes the valid point that Welsh Labour's dominance of politics in Wales is based on the first-past-the-post electoral system and that a more proportional alternative would help to reverse to some degree, that imbalance.

However, he is not going to win any friends with the Labour administration in Cardiff Bay which holds half of the seats in the Senedd, by using an anti-Labour argument to bolster his case. For it would be difficult for the Westminster Government to force through changes to the way in which the Assembly is elected without the support of that very body. Yet by couching his argument in such a politically party-partisan way, he is going to throw up unecessary obstacles in the way of getting such a change through the required political processes.

It's incredibly frustrating. He makes valid points about proportionality and the co-terminosity of Westminster and Assembly constituencies but loses the moral high-ground by bringing Labour-bashing into it.

A Word of Congratulations to Paul Davies AM - Interim Welsh Conservative Party Leader

One of the big stories from Thursday's Welsh Assembly election was the Welsh Conservative Party's loss of its leader Nick Bourne AM.

Because of the vagaries of the AMS electoral system used here in Wales, the Conservatives' success in winning Montgomeryshire and holding onto Preseli Pembrokeshire and Carmarthen West and South Pembrokeshire constituencies meant that their Mid & West Wales regional Assembly Member and leader lost his seat. Their very success, meant that their leader was ejected from his seat in Cardiff Bay having led his party there for a decade. As he himself admitted, it was a 'bittersweet moment' - the pleasure of political success tinged with the personal loss of his own position.

Step Forward Paul Davies AM
So one of the early post-election questions has centred around the person of Nick Bourne's replacement. Because now that the Conservatives have for the first time in the Assembly's history, overtaken Plaid Cymru by 14 seats to 11, they are now the seond largest party in the Senedd and their new leader will automatically become the leader of the opposition (a post also held by Nick Bourne in the last Labour-Plaid Assembly Government).

Nomination papers for Nick Bourne's successor will be sent out on May 11th and the winner will be declared on July 14th. Monmouth's AM Nick Ramsay and South Wales Central AM Andrew R.T. Davies are said to be considering leadership bids as is Clwyd West's Darren Millar.

In the meantime, it is the Assembly Member for Preseli Pembrokeshire, Paul Davies AM who has been tasked with leading this strengthened group over the weeks ahead.

I think the Welsh political world was slightly taken aback by this development when he was chosen by a joint meeting of the management board and assembly group on Saturday. But in many ways, it makes complete sense. Paul is a well respected and liked local west Walian politician. He grew up in Pontsian in southern Ceredigion and stood in the 2000 by-election and the 2001 General Election in Ceredigion where he posted his party's best results before or since in the constituency since 1992 with 19% of the vote in 2001.

He then stood in Preseli Pembrokeshire in 2003 where he scored 29% of the vote and on standing again in 2007, increased his vote by 9% and won the seat from Labour with an impressive majority of 3,205. This May, despite a concerted effort by Labour to win the seat back, Paul held onto his seat with a decreased majority of 2,175. But that figure hides the fact that whilst the Labour vote went up by 7%, Paul's also went up by almost 4% to 42%.

I've met Paul a few times. He now lives just over the border in Pembrokeshire, a few miles south of Cardigan in Blaenffos. I've been on Welsh language political media panels with him in the past such as Pawb A'i Farn and he's a very decent, reasonable, likeable man. Compared to many in Welsh politics, he's a 'quiet man', but he's well respected and will in his own words, be a 'safe pair of hands' as interim leader before Nick Bourne's successor is unveiled.

Paul has said that he does not intend to put his name forward himself and will quite rightly remain neutral in the contest that is to ensue. No doubt this stance made him an easy choice for the Welsh Conservatives as their interim leader but his supposed lack of ambition on this front should not take-away from the fact that he will be a popular and well respected leader of his party in the short-term.

Well done Paul - a deserved appointment for a decent man.

My Ceredigion and Welsh Lib Dem Assembly Election Review

Well, it has been an emotional rollercoaster of a night.

A lack of sleep, nerves torn to shreds and a distinct lack of fingernails have all pointed to what has been a dramatic and indeed, for many of us liberals, a traumatic electoral evening.

Last night, before the polls closed, Daran Hill gave an excellent non-partisan look on the Wales Home blog here at what he knew would be a testing night ahead. He mentioned the essential humanity that is evident on these nights when friends from across the political spectrum witness their political stars rise or indeed, fall to earth with a shattering thump.

As he said: "My stomach is in a knot of both anticipation and worry. I am not looking forward to tonight because there will be losers as well as winners. And they are all real people who may, through just a handful of votes, see their careers end or their dreams begin".

So, it turned out.

As the night went on, it was clear from listening to our radios at the Ceredigion count in Aberaeron that all was not going well throughout Wales. Losing Wyn Williams in Montgomeryshire in the end didn't come as the greatest surprise because the pointers had been moving in that direction for some time but it was still a huge loss to us because Wyn would've been a great asset to the Liberal Democrat group in the Welsh Assembly. Then the news that we lost Cardiff Central by just 38 votes - again, Nigel Howells would've been another great addition to the Cardiff Bay team but by the smallest of margins, his magnificent campaigning team were pipped at the post. Then there was the loss of Veronica German on the South Wales East list. Again, with her expertise and knowledge, she had already in just a year in the Assembly, proven herself to be a formiddable opponent. Her experience will be missed.

Light at the end of the liberal tunnel
But something changed during the night. If Veronica lost out on the regional list, then what of Peter Black on the corresponding list in South Wales West? After 12 years in the Assembly, he admits in his blog post here this morning, that he'd began to mentally prepare himself for defeat when the numbers looked against him. But as that quirk of fate has it, whilst we lost that one battle in Cardiff by a wafer-thin margin, so it was that Peter held on to that 4th and final list seat by just 54 votes out of a regional total of 154,381 ballots cast. Incredible.

Then came the news that because of the Conservatives strong performance across the mid and west Wales region, their Assembly leader Nick Bourne had lost his seat to our very own Bill Powell who becomes the first Welsh Liberal Democrat Assembly Member for Mid and West Wales. This certainly gives us some respite after the loss of Montgomeryshire. Also the news that the flip side of losing Cardiff Central meant that John Dixon was elected on the South Wales Central regional list.

Then finally this afternoon the fantastic news that a stronger than expected North Wales regional vote for the party helped elect Aled Roberts to the Assembly. Aled, as the current leader of Wrexham Council, is a formiddable political operater with much experience in the Welsh and English media. He will stengthen Kirsty Williams' Assembly team immeasurably.

So having for a time looked as if we may sink to as little as just 2 or 3 members, we finally finished up with a total of 5 - only one down and certainly a good case of damage limitation. Certainly when compared to the relative decimation that the party has suffered in English city councils and up in Scotland where 16 MSP's have been whittled down now to little more than 5 or 6, we can say here in Wales that we held our own.

But we have lost ground across the country and a number of deposits (a bank sapping 17 if my tally is correct) and even in a handful of seats, fell behind the BNP. Clearly, the blame-game from the Westminster coalition has played a significant part but we must dust ourselves down, keep calm, move on and re-build.

The Ceredigion Experience
It certainly wasn't doom and gloom where we were in Aberaeron last night at the very least.

After what had been a spirited and enjoyable campaign with our fantastic and energetic candidate Elizabeth Evans, on a 3.5% swing from Plaid Cymru to the Welsh Liberal Democrats, we more than halved the Plaid Cymru majority from the 3,955 figure in 2007, down now to just 1,777. It must be remembered also that Plaid's majority in 1999 was a staggering 10,249 and in 2003 was down to 4,618 so we have continuously eaten into their majority over the past 12 years.

Our share of the vote held steady whilst Plaid's fell by 8% and it was a pshycological boost for us to mainatin a vote count of over 10,000.

It certainly demonstrates that in this old bastion of liberalism, which once shone brightly when the golden candle was reduced to only 5 MPs in Westminster in the late 1950s, that candle is still shining brightly.

Ceredigion does things differently. It's always a much more 'local' campaign here on the ground and the calibre of the individual candidates stands much greater scrutiny. I suppose the only other Welsh constituency that can share our maverick status is Anglesey which curretly returns an MP and an AM from different political parties.

I was happy with the result that we had on its own merit as we've now well and truly made this Assembly seat a 'marginal' for the future. But on witnessing the scale of the losses that the party were suffering across the UK, it struck me that actually, ours was in the circumstances, a herculean effort and Elizabeth, Mark Williams MP and our fantastic, enthusiastic team of volunteers, both young and young at heart, deserve great praise for their efforts.

It's been a challenging night for our party but we must fight on. Here in Ceredigion, we do so in great heart after another excellent performance which stands us in good stead for the future.

Election Day & Rudyard Kipling

It's early election day morning and I will soon be out on the door-steps of Cardigan delivering the faithful 'Good Morning' leaflet with supporters in the town.

Tonight, I'll be attending the count and I am now more than versed in the 'count night' etiquette. My first major election count was for the corresponding Welsh Assembly election in 2003. I've since attended every election count in Ceredigion apart from for the 2009 European elections (I wanted a rest from the count so I could stay in and watch the election results come in on TV for the first time since 2001!).

I've won a few and I've lost a few. I was there when we won the Westminster seat from Plaid Cymru in 2005 and again when we increased our 219 majority to one of 8,324 in 2010. I was obviously there when I was first elected to Ceredigion County Council with a majority of 18 in 2004 and again when I was re-elected in 2008 with 86% of the vote.

I've also been there when we've fallen short - in the 2003 and 2007 Welsh Assembly elections in particular.

Tonight, I'll be hoping to see us overturn that Welsh Assembly run as we have had a great campaign with a great candidate in Elizabeth Evans so I am genuinely hopeful for a good result.

But I've been on the winning side and the losing side enough times now to realise that when it comes to election counts, there's one man who epitomised the mindset that is required on entering the counting hall more aptly than anyone else.

As Rudyard Kipling eloguently put it in 'If',

"If you can meet with Triumph and Disaster
And treat those two impostors just the same"

Because at the end of the day this is just an election and win or lose, life carries on.

I felt that very profoundly yesterday when I took a break from campaigning to lead a commemorative dedication ceremony in remembrance of Lance Sgt Dave Greenhalgh who lost his life in Afghanistan during my Mayoral year in February 2010. Yesterday, the community of Cardigan, his friends and family and the British Legion dedicated a bench in his memory in Victoria Gardens, in the shadow of our Cenotaph. It was a simple and yet moving ceremony. The Legion had 4 proud standards present and after the 2 minute silence and the Kohima Epitaph, I led the civic element of the ceremony and invited Dave's friends and family to speak in his memory. At the end, both I as the then Mayor and our current Mayor Cllr Mair Morris, whose Mayoral charity for this year takes in the 'Help for Heroes' fund, officially unveiled the bench by lifting the Union Jack from it to show to all, Adrian Lewis' wonderful work in putting together this wonderful bench.

So after a moving ceremony as that which I helped lead yeaterday, it does put everything into perspective.

I will be out campaigning today to do my very best to ensure that our fantastic candidate Elizabeth Evans has the best opportunity of being returned as the new Assembly Member for Ceredigion over the next 24 hours but an event such as that which was held in Cardigan yesterday, instills in you great humility.

So having found myself at both ends of an election result, I know how it feels to win and how it feels to lose. But then there's no greater loss than the sacrifice of giving your life for your country.

So whatever the result over the next few 24 hours, it'll be the people who will have spoken and it will be their result that we supporters of all colours will have to abide by. As politicians, we like to feel that we are doing our best to move our country and our communities forward. But there are those on the battlefield who are doing the same but the result of which, can be very different.

So I will go about my duties today with a great sense of gratitude for those who gave the ultimate sacrifice for our tomorrow and for the very democracy in which we now ask local residents to participate.

Welsh Liberal Democrats Launch Assembly Manifesto in Ceredigion

It's been a busy week. Amongst all of the campaigning, we hosted the Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg MP to Ceredigion last week when he visited our candidate Elizabeth Evans' hometown of Aberaeron to meet local representatives of the local business community.

Today, we were back in Aberaeron for the launch of the Welsh Liberal Democrat Assembly Manifesto.

Kirsty Williams, our popular Welsh leader, officially launched the manifesto this lunchtime in front of the TV cameras (and Newsnight's Michael Crick!) and a gathering of supporters. Our Elizabeth Evans introduced Kirsty and the assembled media pack to Aberaeron and Kirsty's manifesto launch went out (so I'm told) live on BBC News 24.


Kirsty Williams launching the Welsh Liberal Democrat
Manifesto Today in Aberaeron

Kirsty Williams, in launching our manifesto said:

“This election is the chance for the people of Wales to set the direction of the Welsh government until 2016.

“My children are at primary school. By the time we next debate these issues at a Welsh election, by the time we next decide the direction of schooling in Wales, they will be kapproaching their GCSEs. For them and for thousands of other children, this will be their chance.

“This election is too important to allow the Labour Party to ignore Welsh issues. Labour and Plaid have left us with a weak economy, underfunded schools and an NHS that costs more but delivers less. The Welsh people deserve a proper conversation about how we in Wales address these issues.

“No more excuses. The Welsh Liberal Democrats believe that Wales can do better. That is why we are setting out a radical manifesto full of positive ideas to:

· Create jobs and improve our economy by offering companies £2,000 for staff training if they provide jobs to unemployed young people.

· Tackle the spending gap, providing more money for schools by targeting additional money at the 80,000 pupils who need it the most so that schools can afford to invest in the things that really matter, such as smaller class sizes or one-on-one teaching.

· Cut waiting times by cutting waste. We will improve healthcare by switching ineffective spending in the NHS to the frontline.

· Radically overhaul the energy efficiency of an extra 12,000 homes by doubling the money available for tackling fuel poverty.

· Make sure your council can deliver for you by cutting restrictions that stop them innovating and acting in the best interest of local communities.”

The fully costed manifesto gives the people of Ceredigion and indeed Wales more generally, an opportunity to support a party that wants to support enterprise and not hold it back. Here in Ceredigion, as the Deputy Prime Minister heard last week, that will be greatly welcomed.

It was great to have our launch, the day after Plaid Cymru had theirs, out in 'real' Wales. Plaid Cymru decided to hold theirs in the Cardiff Bay bubble but we rightly took it out into the country. Indeed, on asking the formiddable BBC journalist Michael Crick (who I can exlusively reveal, is partial to some victoria sponge), when did he last come to this part of the world, he answered by saying that this was the first time that he had visited Aberaeron and his last visit to Aberystwyth was some 10 years ago.

So it was nice to bring the media out of their comfort zone as well!

Now it's back to the door-steps to spread our message of optimism which can be read in the manifesto which Elizabeth and Kirsty launched today in the heart of Wales.

Why Elizabeth Evans is the best choice for Ceredigion

A few days ago, I wrote this piece on the election ground campaign in Ceredigion for the Liberal Democrat Voice website. It was posted here on Thursday.

Here it is re-visited...

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Campaigning in Ceredigion is rather unique. The big beasts of 20th century British politics, the Conservative and Labour parties, hold no sway here. It’s a battle instead between liberals and nationalists and the Welsh Liberal Democrat candidate Elizabeth Evans is proving to be a formidable opponent to Plaid’s Elin Jones.

The ‘poster’ war, which is always a central feature to this unique constituency’s electoral battleground, was in full swing early on. Over the years, it’s always been opportune to show that momentum is on your side by getting those road-side stakeboards up before your opponent. Well, this year it was a clear win for the Welsh Liberal Democrats as our boards went up along the A487 and the A44 a full week before the Plaid boards made a slow appearance.

As a candidate, it’s a pleasure to work alongside and canvass for Elizabeth. She is well known to people across Ceredigion through her work with Mark Williams MP as his senior caseworker, as a councillor, and with numerous community organizations. Born and raised in the county, Elizabeth has represented her home town of Aberaeron on Ceredigion County Council since 2008.

Elizabeth’s parents were the owners of the New Celtic Restaurant on Aberaeron harbour, and in 2009 she followed in the footsteps of her grandfather by becoming Mayor of Aberaeron. After leaving school Elizabeth worked in the retail industry in Cardiff and London before returning to Ceredigion to set up her own business in Aberystwyth. She now puts this business experience to good use as Chair of Ceredigion County Council’s Economic Development and Tourism Scrutiny Committee.

So she knows her stuff does our Elizabeth and she’s taking her passion for her home county out onto the doorsteps. Her concerns for our local health service are chiming with the fears and worries of local residents – it being the biggest concern the length and breath of the county. The packed public meeting held in Aberystwyth only last week regarding the future of healthcare provision in Bronglais Hospital proved testament to that. Elizabeth has a particular empathy with these concerns because as a past-chair of Mencap Ceredigion, she has an interest that is reflected in her current campaign to secure local facilities for elderly patients suffering from dementia, Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s diseases.

Elizabeth Evans with Nick Clegg at their
Aberaeron Business Forum Yesterday

Residents of the county are aware that health is a devolved issue and that it is the Labour/Plaid government in Cardiff Bay that has let them down - it isn’t right that waiting lists are longer here than they are in England. Farmers in the county are also more than aware that the botched Glastir proposals are Elin Jones’ fault as the out-going Agriculture Minister. The low up-take of the scheme by farmers has proven that it is a bureaucratic nightmare and Elizabeth and the Welsh Liberal Democrats are committed to listening and working with our rural communities and not dictate policy to them as has been the Plaid/Labour way.

But what is most striking on going around with Elizabeth, our hard-working local MP Mark Williams and our enthusiastic team of volunteers, is the warm welcome that we’ve received on the door-step. For all of the nay-sayers and doom-mongerers in the media, the reality of the situation isn’t borne out here on the ground. That’s because residents know that the Welsh Liberal Democrats are on their side in Ceredigion. As the old saying goes, we do work hard for local people all year round and not just at election time.

We will continue then, to spread our positive message of change across Ceredigion over the weeks ahead to give our county the best opportunity of ensuring that that hard work continues with a new Welsh Liberal Democrat Assembly Member for Ceredigion, in Elizabeth Evans, come May 6th.

Post Script
This post as mentioned appeared on Liberal Democrat Voice on Thursday. There followed the following day, yesterday, a trip to the county by the Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg as pictured above. More can be read about this visit here.

The Deputy Prime Minister - Putting Ceredigion on the Map

Yes, the Deputy Prime Minister came to Ceredigion today.

That is quite possibly the first time that that has been said of a top ranking Government Minister in 90 years since Lloyd George came to Ceredigion in 1921. Certainly, there has been no visit from a Prime Minister or Deputy Prime Minister in the last 30 years. There was an occasion I'm told when a senior Labour Party leader was heckled whilst driving down Cardigan's High St - was it Harold Wilson or Michael Foot I'm not sure.

But anyway, the point is that the heart of the UK's decision-making process came to Ceredigion today and that's a bloody good thing.

Ceredigion Business Forum
To be precise, Nick Clegg came late this afternoon to Aberaeron on the final leg of his whirlwind tour of Wales. As Elizabeth Evans our Welsh Assembly candidate is an Aberaeron girl, she made it clear that she wanted to bring the Deputy Prime Minister to her home town when the idea of a visited was mentioned a few weeks ago!

He arrived slightly earlier than planned at 4pm by helicopter and we were relieved when we heard that he'd landed as there was a sea mist hanging over the town making the landing that bit more challenging! On touch down, he was welcomed by our local Welsh Liberal Democrat MP Mark Williams and our Welsh Assembly candidate Elizabeth Evans. He had come to speak to local business people about the local economy - to listen to their concerns and to to take back to the heart of Government, the hopes and fears of rural Wales.

We had only had 48 hours to organise the event having finally been given clearance by special branch on Wednesday so I was delighted that even in such a short time-frame we managed to get business people from across Ceredigion to the event. Traders from Cardigan, Lampeter, New Quay, Aberaeron and Aberystwyth all came along to meet the Deputy Prime Minister and to put their case to him and to Elizabeth, our prospective Assembly Member for Ceredigion.

Issues raised ranged from the banking crisis, to business rates, to unecessary red tape, to the housing market. Nick answered the questions alongside Elizabeth in what was an informal set-up and there was enough time for traders from New Quay, Lampeter, Cardigan, Aberaeron and Aberystwyth to get their questions in.


The Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg with
Elizabeth Evans and Mark Williams MP

After the forum finished, Nick and Elizabeth answered questions from the press in The Hive's great outside eating area overlooking Aberaeron Harbour. I'd been tasked with ensuring that the local media were all informed and the local papers were well represented with the editor of the Tivy Side, Sue Lewis present as well as the local Aberaeron reporter Hannah Smith from the Cambrian News and David from the Carmarthen Journal. They were given much more time with Nick than I think they expected and they got some Welsh Cakes too!

ITV Wales and BBC Wales were also present with their cameras so the visit was screened tonight on the Welsh news as seen briefly here - the ITV Wales coverage of it can be see here http://www.itv.com/wales/cleggs-wales-visit87171/.

After some final photos and an ice cream (and a call in French with an African President!), Nick was gone and the stress of helping to organise a high-level Government visit with the security that went with it, had quite literally, flown away!

Putting Ceredigion on the Map
We've had high profile visits before over recent years. Ashdown and Kennedy all came here as Liberal Democrat leaders and I was personally proud as punch to lead Menzies Campbell around Cardigan when he visited as party leader back in 2007

But there's nothing like welcoming a Liberal Democrat Government Minister to our county. Because under previous Conservative and Labour governments, Ceredigion has been ignored. The Liberal Democrats however put that right and I'm proud that Nick, as the Deputy Prime Minister, came to speak to local business people on their turf and on their terms.

Bourne Free! (An Ode to missing Welsh Tory leader, Nick Bourne)

So, where was Nick?


Where's Nick gone?

The Welsh Conservatives Party Political Broadcast for the Welsh Assembly elections has just been screened but there was no sign of their leader. How come?

This after all is the current out-going Leader of the Opposition in the 2007-2011 Welsh Assembly. Indeed, he may hold aspirations of seeing his party overtake Plaid Cymru on May 5th in Assembly seats and strike a deal with them and the Welsh Liberal Democrats that would put him in place as the next First Minister.

A little far-fecthed? Well ok yes, but not wholly inconceivable. So why wasn't he to be seen on his party's PPB just weeks out from polling day?

It's all rather odd and would make you wonder whether the Welsh Conservatives want to be seen to be led by the out-going regional member for Mid & West Wales. After all, the Assembly's Tory group have been known in the past to have had their issues with their leader.

So, to salute the Welsh Conervsative leader who has apparently gone AWOL, here's a classic from Matt Monro.

It's Bo(u)rn(e) Free...

10,927 Ceredigion pensioners to benefit thanks to the Liberal Democrats

As of yesterday, Wednesday 6 April 2011, every pensioner will get a guaranteed rise in their state pension matching the highest of inflation, increase in average earning or 2.5%.

This means that this year 10,927 pensioners in Ceredigion will get a rise of £4.50 a week, totalling £2.6m of extra money for pensioners in Ceredigion.

This is the start of pension reform under this Government. On Monday 4 April 2011, Liberal Democrat Pension Minister, Steve Webb announced that the Government will be introducing a flat-rate pension of £140.

Commenting, Ceredigion's Welsh Liberal Democrat Assembly candidate Elizabeth Evans said:

“During these difficult times, Liberal Democrats in Government are making a real difference for today’s pensioners.

“Many pensioners will remember Labour’s pitiful rise in the state pension of 75p, which was frankly insulting. This Coalition Government has given pensioners a guaranteed rise of inflation, an increase in average earning or 2.5%, whichever is the highest, from this year on

“I know this will be a great help for the 10.927 pensioners in Ceredigion as a pensioner retiring today can expect to receive around £15,000 more in basic pension over the course of their retirement than they would have done under Labour.”

Commenting further, Liberal Democrat Pensions Minister, Steve Webb said:

“The bold commitment of triple guarantee of a rise in the state pension by the highest of inflation, the rise in earnings or 2.5% will make the pension system fairer – but Liberal Democrats in Government will not stop there. That is why I have announced the Government will be bringing in a single flat-rate pension of £140 a week.

“We will replace a complex pension system, in which many people don’t know to what they are entitled and so are losing out, with a single, simple, decent flat-rate state pension.

“This will make life simpler for people who are at work today, making choices about savings for tomorrow. People who save at work will know that they are better off, not means-tested as a result.”

“This new flat rate will particularly benefit women and will ensure future pensioners have the guarantee of a decent future, something the Liberal Democrats have been campaigning on for years and are now delivering in Government.”

Again, this demonstrates that the Liberal Democrats are having a significant impact on government policy in the coalition. Because remember, it was the Tories who broke the pensions link with earnings and it was Labour who refused in 13 years to re-instate it. It is now a Liberal Democrat Pensions Minister who has finally righted that wrong and on behalf of Ceredigion's pensioners, I salute him for doing so.

Liberal Democrats give 20,900 Ceredigion residents an Income Tax cut

It's a good day for thousands of people in Ceredigion - all thanks to the Liberal Democrats.

From today, the beginning of the new tax year, around 900 people in Ceredigion will no longer have to pay Income Tax and a further 20,000 will get £200 extra in their pockets.

Liberal Democrats in Government secured a rise in the Income Tax threshold, the point from which people start paying their taxes, of £1,000 to £7,475 which comes into force today.

Across Britain nearly 900,000 people will be lifted out of paying Income Tax while around 23m basic-rate tax payers will get an extra £200 in their pockets.

This increase is the first step toward the Liberal Democrat commitment to raise the Income Tax threshold to £10,000, with a further rise of the threshold was announced in the budget for 2012.

Commenting, Ceredigion's Welsh Liberal Democrat Assembly candidate Elizabeth Evans said:

“At a time when people are worried about their personal finances, this tax cut will help millions of people.

“Here in Ceredigion, 20,000 local residents will get an extra £200 to spend this year and I know this will make a real difference.

“I am proud that thanks to Liberal Democrats in Government, almost a million people will be lifted out of paying tax altogether across the country - 900 of those here in Ceredigion - while 23m people will get a tax cut.

“One way we are paying for this is by taxing the banks more, £10bn more, so they pay their share."This tax cut is straight from the front page of our manifesto to the pockets of 23m tax payers.”

In an area where average earnings are lower than the national average, this is great news for hard pressed local people. It shows that the Liberal Democrats are on the side of fairness and let's be in any doubt about this - if the Liberal Democrats weren't in coalition now, this wouldn't be happening.

Elizabeth Evans Launches Her Assembly Campaign in Style!

Elizabeth Evans launched her Welsh Assembly campaign as Ceredigion's Welsh Liberal Democrat candidate last night in great style!

A packed campaign launch event in Aberaeron heard fantastic, stirring speeches from Mark Williams MP and from Elizabeth herself and the buzz in the room from the young and the young at heart alike was electric!

It's going to be a busy 5 weeks of campaigning but in Elizabeth, as I previously blogged here, we have a fantastic candidate.

It's time for a change in Ceredigion - it's time for Elizabeth Evans!

Elizabeth Evans calls on Chancellor to Axe Planned Budget Fuel Duty Rise

Ceredigion’s Welsh Liberal Democrat Assembly Candidate Elizabeth Evans has welcomed her party president's call for the Chancellor of the Exchequer to axe a planned fuel duty rise in his budget this month.

Liberal Democrat President, Tim Farron MP has written to the Chancellor of the Exchequer calling on him to axe the planned fuel duty rise in his budget next week.

Labour announced the fuel duty increase in its final budget in power and it will come into force soon.

The average price per litre has now reached 130.03p for unleaded petrol and 135.44p for diesel, a record high. Tax accounts for 63% of the price of fuel at the pump.

Recently the Department for Work and Pensions announced that significantly fewer people than had previously been calculated signed up for Jobseekers Allowance in the early months' of 2011. This news coupled with the higher than expected quarterly tax figures; have meant that the Treasury will have more room for manoeuvre at this month's Budget than was previous thought.

Elizabeth and Tim would like to see the Treasury use this opportunity for some spending in the Budget to axe the proposed fuel duty rise and help hard working people in Ceredigion.

Elizsabeth Evans with Lib Dem President Tim Farron MP
at Tregaron Mart

On a visit to Ceredigion last week, Tim Farron said: "High fuel prices are causing real hardship across the country. I think we need to help hard pressed families and businesses and an easy way of doing that is cutting the cost of fuel. I am calling on the chancellor to use his budget to help us all by doing this",

Elizabeth Evans added: "In rural areas like ours a car is not a luxury it is a necessity. It's therefore crucial that the government seeks to support us by scrapping this planned budgetary fuel rise. Tim is therefore right to call on the Chancellor to do this and I was delighted to meet with him last week and to take him around Tregaron Mart where those concerns were being expressed to us both by farmers and local residents.

"I'm also delighted that our local MP Mark Williams has been fighting our corner by requesting that rural Wales and Ceredigion specifically be included in the Government's rural fuel rebate scheme. The Welsh Office with the support of the Minister David Jones are on-side and it's similarly important that we're successful in this call as the scheme, if implemented, could see a reduction in fuel prices at the pumps in Ceredigion by as much as 5p per litre".

Well said Liz.