Responding to new record high inflation rates, Welsh Liberal Democrat Leader Jane Dodds MS said:

“Inflation rates are now at a record high and are set to continue to rise. This Conservative Government is spending all its time fighting each other behind closed doors and trying to regain public trust after the Downing Street parties, while families are left to struggle with the cost-of-living crisis.

Ahead of today’s Senedd debate on the Legislative Consent Motion for the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill which is currently going through Westminster, the Welsh Liberal Democrats have reiterated their opposition to large sections of the Bill calling them “dangerous and draconian”.

Former Welsh Liberal Democrat Assembly Member for Cardiff Central and Deputy First Minister of Wales Jenny Randerson has slammed the Conservatives for trying to push through the “dangerous & draconian” Police Bill.

Baroness Jenny Randerson, Former Assembly Member for Cardiff Central and Deputy First Minister

The Welsh Liberal Democrats have accused Welsh Conservative MPs of being “hideously out of touch” with the public on the cost-of-living crisis, including the rapid rise in energy bills.

The accusation comes as polling from Savanta ComRes has found 75 per cent of Conservative Party voters would back a new windfall tax on oil and gas companies to fund households struggling to afford rising energy prices.

Welsh Liberal Democrat Leader Jane Dodds MS

The Welsh Lib Dems have been demanding action on several key areas in today’s budget with Welsh Government Ministers since the May election.

These included increased and protected spending for mental health services, greater support for children and young people in care, and up-skilling young people for green jobs.

Welsh Liberal Democrat Leader Jane Dodds MS

Welsh Liberal Democrat Leader Jane Dodds has today challenged Welsh Secretary of State and def-facto Welsh Conservative Leader in Westminster, Simon Hart MP, to submit a letter of no-confidence in his party leader after fresh revelations of a Downing Street garden party undermined the Prime Minister’s claim to have no knowledge of parties taking place in his official residence during lockdown.

Rural areas of Wales will be amongst the worst hit in the UK by the expected rise in energy bills in April, with seven out of the 20 hardest-hit areas in the UK located in Wales.

New analysis by the Welsh Liberal Democrats shows median bills will rise by an average of £598, with some places seeing bill increases as high as £750. People living in Ceredigion will see the highest rises in Wales and second highest in the UK with bill increases as high as £863. Also in the top 20 are Gwynedd, Carmarthenshire, Powys, Ynys Mon, Pembrokeshire and Denbighshire.

The Conservative government’s stealth tax raid will cost the average family in Wales £370 a year by 2026, or a total of £500 million, research commissioned by the Liberal Democrats has revealed.

The Welsh Liberal Democrats have called on the UK Government to act immediately to prevent the potential expansion of the Aberpergwm Coal Mine in the Neath Valley.

Powys Liberal Democrats have accused the Powys Conservative council group of descending into chaos over its school closure programme. The accusation comes after the Conservative group lost both cabinet member and councillor Iain McIntosh; Cllr Mark Barnes, Cllr (also MS) James Evans in shock resignations over the Administrations school closures, tax rises and other issues. The events have left the Conservative group on 12 councillors, meaning the Welsh Liberal Democrats are now the largest political party (and second largest group) in the council with 14 councillors.

Powys Council as of January 10, 2022 (The ruling administration is an Independent-Conservative Coalition)