Jane Dodds to stand down as Welsh Liberal Democrats leader after nearly nine years

Jane Dodds has announced she will stand down as leader of the Welsh Liberal Democrats after nearly nine years at the helm.

In a statement to party members published on Tuesday, Dodds said it was time to hand over the leadership to “a new generation”, while confirming she would carry on as the party’s only Member of the Senedd (Welsh Liberal Democrats; BBC Politics).

Dodds has led the party since her election in 2017, a tenure she noted spanned six prime ministers and five Welsh first ministers. Her exit follows May’s Senedd election, after which she was once again the party’s sole MS.

“I don’t want to be the only one after the next election,” she wrote, adding that Wales needs a team of liberal voices in the Senedd and that the work of rebuilding “should be led by a new generation”.

“I am not going anywhere,” Dodds said, confirming she will continue as the Member of the Senedd for Brycheiniog Tawe Nedd. Party president Tim Sly will set out the timetable for the leadership election in the coming days.