Leader's Speech to Spring Conference in Llandudno February 2008

Speech by Mike German delivered to Welsh Liberal Democrat Conference in Llandudno February 2008 on Sat 23rd Feb 2008

Conference, I want to tell you about a journey.

A half term recess journey.

Because I wanted to see how our Liberal Democrat councillors were making a

difference.

Let me tell you they are. They definitely are.

Last week, in this venue, Rhodri Morgan said he wanted to talk about the record of the Welsh Liberal Democrat led councils.

In Cardiff, Swansea, Bridgend and Wrexham.

It's something he regularly tries at First Minister's Questions - and I'm sure we'll see more of it in the months to come.

Innuendo and allegation.

Labour's dirty tricks.

I say, If he wants to talk about records in local government - bring it

on.

Put your cards on the table..

Because we've got a winning hand.

The Ace of Cardiff - Rodney Berman.

The King of Wrexham - Aled Roberts

The Queen of Bridgend - Cheryl Green

And everyone knows Chris Holley is a Swansea Jack.

And what about Mike Priestley - 10 out of 10 for his efforts to push Conwy towards the top of the league for recycling.

A Royal Welsh Liberal Democrat Flush - every one of them diamonds.

When I say that we are the challengers to Labour, there's no bluffing involved. No poker face.

We have already made a difference in two of Wales' cities along the M4.

Labour only has one city left.

And we're coming for that one too.

I started my tour in Wrexham. What a job they've done there.

No wonder Aled Roberts was the ITV Wales local politician of the year.

I saw the street pride scheme - a single number that people can ring to get action on the graffiti, fly tipping and littering that blight communities.

Action on anti-social behaviour - not just words.

No wonder people don't want Labour back.

In Conwy, I met Mike Priestley. Talk about a greener community.

A single Lib Dem on the exec, can transform a county.

More green bags than the Irish Olympic team.

In Cardiff they've survived as a minority administration and transformed the city at the same time. I saw some of the new housing stock they're building - new green homes.

In Bridgend, they're pioneering new ways of making people healthier, by leading the way in prescribing exercise plans, as a remedy for ills. And it works. It really works.

In Swansea they've created one of the new wonders of Wales.

There's one problem with the new Leisure Centre…

I fear the cafe isn't big enough for all the people who are going to want to see it when it opens on March 1.

It's an incredible facility. Indoor surfing, a water ride around the inside of the building. It's really going to make a splash - if you'll pardon the pun.

Let's not forget.

This is a facility closed by Labour.

Welsh Lib Dems will re-open it - better than ever before.

First class facilities for the people of Swansea, and a major visitor attraction for Wales.

Closed by Labour - re-opened by the Welsh Lib Dems.

Are you listening Rhodri?

Can you understand why people in Swansea don't want Labour back!

Wherever you go, where the Liberal Democrats have been in leadership

positions, there is change.

Not everyone likes it. Some people fear change.

But nowhere have I heard anyone say: "I wish I hadn't voted Lib Dem. I wish we still had Labour in power."

Nowhere.

You know why?

Because no-one… wants… Labour… back.

They've seen that there's an alternative.

They've seen that we can take the tough decisions - but that we listen

too.

That's a major change from decades of Labour control.

Safer.

Greener.

Better Value.

That's what you get when you vote for the Welsh Liberal Democrats.

Action to tackle anti-social behaviour;

Action on the environment;

And lower council tax rises than under Labour.

That's why I'm excited about our record in local government.

That's why I want more councillors come May 1.

That's why I want all of you to join me, out there, talking to people, delivering the leaflets, knocking the doors, making the case:

Safer, Greener, Better Value.

Welsh. Liberal. Democrats.

Change in the party

If we are the change makers in the councils, then we have to be willing to show that willingness to change ourselves.

All parties need to look closely at themselves after an election.

To challenge themselves.

Look again at their core principles.

Ask whether their policies, campaigning and communications are effective.

I'm excited that our new chief executive Joanne Foster will be starting work on March 3, and will be bringing fresh eyes, and a new energy to all these issues.

She will be leading the party's work to prepare for 2011.

She's here today, and I'm sure many of you have already been introduced. Give her your support.

To move forward, to seize the opportunities of Labour's decline, and Plaid's loss of soul, we have to respond to changing circumstances.

We must sharpen our edge for the challenge ahead.

I will be standing down later this year - when it's sensible and practical to do so - and I want to hand the party on to my successor in good shape.

In Aberystwyth I told you some of the things that I wanted to achieve - laid out six challenges to the party.

That work has already begun.

We must have a distinctive position on public services.

A position that reflects our unique philosophy.

We have started working on that.

Jenny Randerson has begun a review of health policy.

Kirsty Williams has started it in education.

These reviews will look at how we engage the tremendous energy that exists in our communities for our local services.

An energy that currently only manifests itself in protest.

An energy in short supply from much of Welsh politics.

If we can harness that strongly felt instinct to defend local services.

Think what it could do to develop those services.

Shape them in the communities image.

And really deliver for local people.

I said We must strengthen our resolve on the green agenda.

Our record in local government shows we are doing this locally.

We will be leading a debate on Smart Meters in the Assembly chamber on Wednesday - proposing that all homes be fitted out in the next 10 years.

Once again, we are putting forward the ambitious targets.

Driving the agenda.

We are no longer alone on this road.

But we remain further down it than any of the other parties.

Mae'n rhaid i ni fod yn blaid Cymraeg - ac i wneud yn siwr fod pobl Cymru yn gwybod hynny hefyd.

Mae Eleanor Burnham yn ein harwain ar y trywydd cywir.

Bydd y gwaith mae Eleanor yn ei wneud ar hyn o bryd yn gam pwysig tuag at etholidadu 2011 (dwy fil ag unarddeg).

Dwi'n siwr y bydd hi wrth ei bodd yn gwrando ar eich syniadau.

Da ni, ar hyn o bryd, yn cynnal adolygiad o gyfansoddiad ein plaid - bydd hyn yn ein galluogi i wynebu her Cymru yn yr unfed ganrif ar ugain. Gyda hyder.

Mae'n rhaid i ni ymestyn ty hwnt i ardaloedd cryf y Democratiaid Rhyddfrydol.

Ty hwnt i Geredigion ac ymestyn yn bellach i mewn i Orllewin Cymru.

Ni oedd y blaid naturiol yn yr ardaloedd yma - a byddwn eto yn blaid cadarn a chryf yn yr ardaloedd yma.

Deallwch hyn! - nid oes un man yng Nghymru na allwn ennill .

Gorllewin, dwyrain, de a'r gogledd. Tlawd, cyfoethog; dinas, dyffryn a phentref - yr un yw'r neges.

Gwerth eich harian am wasanaethu;

Gwerth eich harian o'ch Trethi Cyngor.

Gwell pwerau i Gymru a'n cymunedau.

Y Democratiaid Rhyddfrydol Cymru yw'r unig blaid a all gynnig hyn i chi

[(translation of Welsh language text) We have to be a Welsh Party - and be perceived to be Welsh.

Eleanor Burnham is leading the way on this.

I think the work she will bring forward will be one of the most important stepping stones on the road to 2011.

And I know she'd love to hear any ideas you have.

We have a constitutional review underway - to make sure that our organisation is fit for purpose in 21st Century Wales

We have to reach beyond the border areas where we are strong,

Beyond Ceredigion, and reach deeper in to West Wales.

We used to be the natural party in those areas - we can be again.

Let me make this clear. There are no no-go areas for the Welsh Liberal Democrats.

East, west, north, south, rich, poor, city, valley or country - the message is the same.

If you value your services;

Want better value from your council tax;

Want more powers for Wales and your community;

• it's the Welsh Liberal Democrats who can deliver that for you.]

I said in October, We must make the most of the Welsh pound because cash is to be tight for the next three years.

How have we been proved right here! The budget was pretty poor.

And Labour and Plaid have singled out councils for the worst settlement since the Assembly was created.

But one in 3 people in Wales have seen their local council investing in services AND keeping Council tax down.

Guess what?

Those people live in Cardiff, Swansea, Bridgend and Wrexham.

Better value than Labour,

better value than the Tories,

better value than Plaid (well that wouldn't be difficult)

and the Independents as well!

I said: We must show there is an alternative to the cosy consensus of Plaid and Labour.

We are doing that daily, in the Assembly, in Parliament and in our council chambers.

Standing up for the 101 number.

Abandoned by Labour, ignored by Plaid Cymru.

Only the Welsh Lib Dems are fighting to save the non-emergency number

Labour and Plaid in the Assembly: Failing to support Local Income Tax;

Labour and Plaid : Failing to support fair votes for local government elections.

Labour and Plaid: Failing to back the agreed pay settlement for our hardworking police in Wales.

We are sticking to our guns. Promoting our policies and beliefs.

Plaid Cymru have been tucked up by Labour.

And they're deep in denial.

The Nationalist fish was lured in by the bait of a referendum.

It was a juicy worm on Labour's hook.

But worms - well - they wriggle don't they?

And now Plaid are being left high and dry by Labour's self-styled devo-realists.

Plaid Cymru rejected the opportunity to lead a different kind of government.

They turned their backs on the best programme for government this country never had.

They will pay the price for that as time goes on.

Let's look at where we are on the debate to give the Assembly the powers it needs.

Labour and Plaid have established a convention, to be chaired by Sir Emyr Jones Parry - the former ambassador to the UN.

I've met him, and he is clear - he is a diplomat.

His job is not to win a referendum.

Merely to establish whether Wales is ready for one.

I wrote to the other party leaders asking for a meeting. To talk about how we might start campaigning for more powers.

Rhodri wrote back - for his little helper too - saying it's too soon.

Let's just wait.

Before Sir Emyr can even start his work, a group of Labour and Plaid MPs and AMs have to agree his terms of reference. I call it the "broken lawn mower group" - because every time they meet, the long grass grows a little longer.

Plaid have been tucked up by the Labour establishment.

Labour and Tories are competing to see who is the most divided on the issue. We are the clear champions of further devolution to Wales.

United in belief,

United in purpose

Alone in standing up for what Wales needs.

We alone want to get on with it.

We want a referendum sooner, rather than later.

When people vote in 2011 they should know what they're voting for.

Not what they might get at some stage during the next four years.

And don't think we are going to have a referendum on the same day as the Welsh General Election.

That won't work - fighting other parties and working with them at the same time!

Referendums are won by parties cooperating.

You can't do that while fighting a critical general election.

The sooner we settle the constitutional question, the sooner the Assembly will get on with delivering for Wales.

It's that simple.

So my message to the devo-sceptics, the devo-haters, the devo-realists and the devo-go-slowers is this:

Every minute of delay, is a minute that Wales is being held back.

Held back from reaching its potential.

Get out of the road, because Wales will sooner or later have a proper parliament.

A powerful Senedd with the power to deliver radical proposals to improve life in Wales.

That day is coming, and if you can't help, get out of the way.

Conclusion: freedom and social justice

I was delighted to hear what Nick was saying earlier today.

He was concerned about the different life chances that people have as a

result of their birth.

I agree with Nick.

It can't be right that people live longer, and live healthier, just because of an accident of birth.

Because Liberalism isn't just about freedom. It's fairness too.

Freedom without social justice is just darwinism gone mad.

The survival of the fittest. And the weak go to the wall.

Social justice without freedom is a pretty odd kind of justice. Even Alex Carlile would have a problem with that!

Liberalism is freedom and social justice.

Allowing people the liberty to improve their lives.

Giving them the security to know there's a safety net for the most needy in society.

Freedom and fairness go together.

They're like Ant and Dec.

You can have one on its own - but it's rubbish.

Reducing inequality is key to our vision for Wales.

If we are to provide the radical non-socialist alternative that Wales

needs, we must not forget that.

Labour have talked a lot about social justice.

But they haven't done anything about it.

A century of Labour, but nothing has changed for people in the most

deprived communities.

We know what Labour are like in government - centralising - taking decisions away from people.

You may have seen the hand painted sign on the railway bridge "What will you be doing on judgement day?"

Some far sighted person has scrawled underneath these words: "Waiting for Labour to deliver its promises!"

No wonder people are rejecting Labour's ways.

The ways of the 20th century.

Ill suited to the 21st century.

Labour's way hasn't worked.

Labour and Plaid have gone back to the 70s seeking a solution.

It didn't work then, it won't work now.

They are obsessed with binding people together.

That's the language they use!

Binding people together.

They want to tie people up, constrain them.

We want to free people.

Free up doctors and nurses to decide what's best for our health.

Free up teachers to provide the best education in our classrooms

Free communities to have a bigger say in what happens in their area.

That's localism. That's Liberalism.

Giving people the power to make the difference.

The tighter you cling to power, the more of it you suck in towards you, the less effectively it works.

By releasing power we can put people in charge.

In Sweden I visited a community which had taken over control of school caretaking.

Was providing its own meals on wheels, and a home help service for its elderly and infirm.

All run by local people. Building on the voluntary efforts of local people, and with the backing of paid staff.

A local service, provided by local people.

Where community groups, or community or town council have the ability

and the enthusiasm we should encourage them to take on these kind of responsibilities.

This is a powerful message.

It's a message for every community that is losing services.

Rural communities.

Valleys communities.

Urban communities.

Look at Housing Associations.

In England they have the freedom to do more. And they are prospering.

Using their expertise to generate profit, which can be reinvested in

social housing.

In Wales - the Labour government has held them back - suspicious of giving them that freedom.

We are the champions of freedom and fairness.

And setting the pace on the green agenda.

Conclusion

I have never doubted our time will come.

I have never waivered in my belief that Wales needs the Welsh Liberal

Democrats.

The stronger we become, the stronger Wales will become.

This next election is our opportunity. Toe-to-toe with Labour. Taking

them on in all the big cities.

The Tories can't do that.

Plaid Cymru can't do that.

We alone have the opportunity.

To build our base. Build our support, and build on our record of

delivery.

Every step forward we take now, prepares the ground for the next step.

And the one after that.

We have a long way to go.

And it won't be easy.

But we will get there.

This party is in great shape.

In great heart.

And all the pieces are in place for a bright bright future.

Not just for the party - but for the country too.

Our success will be Wales' success

Our Welsh Liberal Democrat led local councils have delivered.

They have shown us the way.

We must not fear success.

We must get out there and grab it.