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Welsh Lib Dem leader Jane Dodds calls for more generous society

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Jane Dodds will tell her party's conference that Liberal Democrats understand the value of community

A more generous society is needed for the challenges facing Wales and the UK today, the leader of the Welsh Liberal Democrats told party members.

Jane Dodds said the Lib Dems offer a "generous vision for our country".

They are the alternative to Tory "mindless destruction", Labour "managerialism" and nationalist "empty, populist solutions", Ms Dodds said.

She spoke on Saturday, day one of the two-day Welsh Lib Dem conference taking place in Swansea.

Promising the Lib Dems will play their part in removing every Conservative MP from Wales at the UK general election expected next year, Ms Dodds said she is proud her party is "making the case for stronger ties with Europe, rejoining the single market and customs union".

This is needed to "resuscitate our economy and protect our freedoms" and help build a "generous welfare state as an essential part of creating a fairer future for all of us," she argued.

UK Conservative ministers are "driving our country into the ground", "demonising the most vulnerable, smashing our public services, and trashing our economy", Ms Dodds told the conference.

But she also attacked the politics in Cardiff Bay, saying she gets "so frustrated when it feels like we're content in Wales with simply shuffling along bit by bit".

"Shuffling along and playing games when people are waiting years for health treatment, children and young people are languishing on mental health waiting lists, and NHS dentistry is in crisis."

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Jane Dodds is the only Lib Dem in the 60-member Senedd and the party has no Welsh MPs

Debates at the conference include motions on creating a "Celtic Sea powerhouse", on establishing a powerful independent NHS executive to lead the health service in Wales and on moving to a four-day working week.

The Lib Dems made significant gains in Powys at last year's local elections, becoming the largest party there and leading the previously independent-led council by joining together with Labour councillors to form a cabinet.

In the 2019 general election the Lib Dems came second to Conservatives in the Powys seats of Brecon and Radnorshire and Montgomeryshire, constituencies they have previously held.

UK Lib Dem leader Sir Ed Davey will also address the conference on Saturday.