As we begin 2010 it’s tempting only to look forward. The year ahead promises to be an exciting one, with a general election and a possible referendum on further National Assembly powers, 2010 really could see the political landscape change.
I know that across the party, elected members, staff and activists have already imagined the early months of 2010 a hundred times over. Diaries are already filled, plans made and campaigns well underway. It is an exciting and busy time.
But we should resist ignoring the passing of 2009, however keen we might be to start this new year. There’s so much we must learn from the last twelve months, lessons that should inform all of our thinking in the weeks and months ahead.
In 2009 conventional politics revealed itself to be unfit for purpose. We’ve had shameful expenses scandals, devastating recession in Wales, and more recently, the failure of World leaders to agree a deal on climate change in Copenhagen. Meanwhile, brave troops have risked and lost lives defending values that have seemed in short supply in Westminster.
Last year, I reflected on the Obama campaign, as it swept across the United States, ultimately to historic victory. I asked if there was any good reason we couldn’t engage a wider movement in the politics of change, here in Wales. We have begun that project and never has the need been greater. If nothing else, 2009 should stoke our desire for change and reform – we cannot sit back and let the old politics stumble from scandal to failure and back again.
And we are not simply standing by. In Wales and in Westminster, Liberal Democrats are putting forward radical policies that can change Wales for the better. A year ago, I suggested that 2009 would see a battle of ideas. I was wrong, in so far as it takes at least two parties to tango and on all the major issues, Liberal Democrats have provided the only substantive contribution.
On reform of parliament, we have called for a return of power to the people, for wholesale electoral reform and in Wales we are unique in having signed an all-elected member code of conduct. None of this ensures the trust of voters, but it certainly shows the electorate which party is serious about cleaning up politics.
On climate change, Liberal Democrats continue to represent the interests of people, above the vested interests of those who profit from environmental ruin. It was a Welsh Liberal Democrat motion, which secured all-party support and sent Wales’ Environment Minister to Copenhagen calling for 40% emissions cuts by 2020. Copenhagen may have failed, but those targets for Wales remain and I’m proud we set the bar at the right height.
But the story of 2009, for too many in Wales, has been a story of recession. Many businesses have struggled, thousands have lost jobs and thousands more look set to. We’ve done a thorough job of holding the Welsh Government to account, notably exposing first class flights and second class performance within International Business Wales. The Welsh Government was forced to admit strategic failure and in the long run, that reality check will help get Wales back on track.
More recently, we’ve presented fully costed plans to reverse the devastating 5% cuts Labour and Plaid thrust unto Welsh colleges and universities. I was pleased to hear Vince Cable pass damning judgement on those Welsh education cuts, at a meeting of Cardiff Business leaders, last month. We’re making the right calls on the issues that matter – and we must keep telling people that.
But as we campaign over the coming months, let us take stock of the shape we as a party are in. I wrote a year ago of the need to improve our ways of working, to grow our movement both in numbers and in terms of our own aspirations. I believe we have made great steps towards these objectives but there is still so much that we can do.
Whilst we are all Liberal Democrats, our experiences of involvement in the party can be quite radically different. As Leader, I want to ensure that the Welsh Liberal Democrats fully capitalise on the talents and abilities of each and every one of our members. If there is a good idea, or good practice going on within the party – we need to find ways to share and develop those ideas and practices across our movement.
There’s not much point being the party whose members have great ideas, nor the party who is really effective at campaigning in one place, but not the next. I’ve already taken steps to avoid these organisational pitfalls, so that we’re training, sharing and meeting more effectively than ever before.
Our 2009 conferences gave a glimpse of the rewards more effective collaboration can bring: A Fresh look and feel, smooth organisation and focused, relevant policy debate. Outside observers have noticed these improvements contributing to increased confidence in our party, our ideas and our ways of working. We must continue to improve in 2010.
Hard work, professionalism and a sense of pride in our work helps build trust with voters, who more than ever demand full value for their vote. We must continue to be the party that works hardest in and for the communities we serve. If we marry our collective effort with the positive vision for Wales we present, we can enjoy the next few months and give ourselves the best chance of success in the General Election.
So it’s with a positive message that I wish to leave you. I am hugely encouraged by the appetite for success I see across our party. At the Town hall meetings I’ve held, when campaigning and when meeting with members and activists I am assured of the health of Welsh Liberal Democracy. We have grown as a movement and I am confident that we will continue to do so.
With a new website to be launched in the New Year, the online action network ACT already in place and Facebook groups for all sorts of places, events and campaigns, you can keep up to date and take action more easily than ever before. And across Wales more and more people are joining and getting involved, through local parties and through Liberal Youth Wales.
But it’s our radical policies that should give us most confidence as we begin 2010. The policies and proposals we offer fully reflect our objectives: to build and safeguard a fair, free and open society, in which we seek to balance the fundamental values of liberty, equality and community, and in which no-one shall be enslaved by poverty, ignorance or conformity.
Our fair tax proposals confirm our position as the truly progressive party, our commitment to higher and further education funding is more relevant, more vital than ever and our ability to lead the debate on public spending with honesty and integrity matches the electorate’s desire for substance above spin.
Welsh Liberal Democrats can therefore campaign with pride and purpose in 2010, safe in the knowledge we offer a radical, relevant and fair choice for Welsh voters. There’s every reason to work together to ensure an enjoyable, rewarding 2010.
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Yes it looks really exciting for me as well as I go from IB to the new disability benefits of ESA with a twelve pounds a week cut.
I’m so excited I ripped up my labour party card and gave up my Union and decided if I was going to vote it would be for a party which comes close to doing what I think is right for me ,sadly thats the BNP, and of course I cannot vote for them, so I will sit at home at the next election…
So another new labour year in which i will get closer to abject poverty.
Robert never think of voting BNP, one trick pony brigade, what have they got to say about environmental policy or economic matters? Absolutely nothing..they are a fad for the ignorant to latch onto, as for disability benefits the disabled want to thank there lucky stars they get some sort of compensatory funding….some countries they get nothing but
ridicule , thank Jesus you live in the UK
As this could be Kirsty’s year,,she want’s to go for it and be bold and make some noise as she has been doing..the message will be more widely heard