Full Breakdown
Jane Dodds Steps Down as Welsh Liberal Democrat Leader
By Drooid · · How we work
Core Event
Jane Dodds announced that she will resign as leader of the Welsh Liberal Democrats, saying the role has been “the honour of my life” and that a new generation should take over. She will remain the party’s sole Member of the Senedd (MS) for Brycheiniog Tawe Nedd. The announcement was made in a statement released on Tuesday.
Leadership History and Recent Controversies
Dodds has led the Welsh Liberal Democrats since November 2017, succeeding former leader Kirsty Williams, who held the sole Senedd seat from 2016. Under Dodds, the party continued to be represented by only one member in the Senedd, a situation that has persisted since 2016. Her tenure included high-profile policy wins such as a greyhound-racing ban and £1 bus fares for under-21s in exchange for supporting the Welsh Labour budget. Relations with UK Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey became strained after he asked Dodds to reflect on her handling of a 2021 report that criticised her “grave error of judgement” regarding a sexual-abuse case she oversaw while working for the Church of England. Dodds acknowledged “shortcomings” but retained the leadership, and Davey later described her as an “excellent member of the Senedd” ahead of the May 2024 Welsh Parliament election.
Reactions from Party Figures
Welsh Liberal Democrat MP David Chadwick praised Dodds for her “enormous contribution” to the party and the wider community, while noting that questions remain about the party’s next steps. Party president Tim Sly highlighted Dodds’s “warmth, determination and integrity” during turbulent political periods and said she leaves the party stronger. Chadwick indicated he will announce his own political future in the coming days and requires the backing of 50 party members to become the sole leadership candidate.
Leadership Selection Process
Nominations to replace Dodds are scheduled to open on 23 October and close on 16 November, according to the BBC. If Chadwick secures the required support, he will become the only candidate; otherwise, any approved parliamentary candidate may enter the race. The party expects the new leader to build on Dodds’s groundwork and expand liberal representation in the Senedd.