Jane Dodds steps down as Welsh Liberal Democrat leader

Jane Dodds has announced she is standing down as leader of the Welsh Liberal Democrats, saying it’s time for a new generation to take over. She will remain the party’s only Member of the Senedd. Dodds made the announcement on Tuesday, saying that building a larger team in Cardiff Bay would take years and should be led by someone new.

Leadership change after years at helm

Dodds, a former social worker, became Welsh leader in November 2017. She represents Brycheiniog Tawe Nedd in the Senedd. Under her leadership, the party held just one seat in the Welsh Parliament, a position it has been in since 2016. Last year she made headlines by securing a greyhound racing ban and £1 bus fares for under-21s in exchange for supporting the Welsh Labour government’s budget.

But her tenure wasn’t without controversy. In 2024, UK Lib Dem leader Sir Ed Davey asked her to reflect on her position over her handling of a sexual abuse case when she worked for the Church in England. A 2021 report found she made a “grave error of judgement” by not organising a meeting to discuss a case involving a late former bishop who abused at least 18 victims. Dodds accepted there were shortcomings but continued as leader. Relations with Davey were strained for nearly two years before he backed her ahead of May’s election.

In her statement, Dodds said leading the party had been “the honour of my life”, but that now is the right time to hand over. She added: “Building that team will take years of hard work in communities across the country, and I believe that work should be led by a new generation.” Only David Chadwick, the party’s sole Welsh MP, is currently eligible to seek the nomination. He needs the support of 50 party members to become the only candidate. Chadwick said Dodds had given an enormous amount to the party and public life in Wales, and that he would make a statement about his own political future in the coming days. Nominations open on 23 October and close on 16 November.