Welsh Liberal Democrats
|
Welsh Liberal Democrats
Democratiaid Rhyddfrydol Cymru |
|
|---|---|
 |
|
| Leader | Mark Williams MP |
| Deputy leader | TBD |
| Founded | 3 March 1988 |
| Headquarters | 38 The Parade Roath Cardiff, Wales CF24 3AD |
| Youth wing | Welsh Young Liberals |
| Ideology |
Liberalism Social liberalism Pro-Europeanism British unionism |
| Political position | Centre |
| European affiliation | Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe Party |
| International affiliation | Liberal International |
| European Parliament group | Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe |
| Colours | Amber |
| House of Commons |
1 / 40
|
| Welsh Assembly |
1 / 60
|
| European Parliament |
0 / 4
|
| Local government in Wales |
72 / 1,264
|
| Website | |
| www |
|
The Welsh Liberal Democrats (Welsh: Democratiaid Rhyddfrydol Cymru) are one of the three state parties of the federal Liberal Democrats and operate within Wales, the others being the Scottish Liberal Democrats and the English Liberal Democrats.
They are led by Mark Williams, and hold 1 of 60 seats in the National Assembly for Wales and 1 of 40 Welsh seats in the UK Parliament, and none of four Welsh seats in the European Parliament.
The youth wing of the party is Welsh Young Liberals.
The Welsh Liberal Democrats promote liberalism as their main ideology, as well as further devolved powers for the National Assembly for Wales.
The Liberal Council for Wales was founded by David Lloyd George in 1897. This makes the Welsh Liberals the oldest of the political parties in Wales. It was the first to establish a truly Welsh identity. During the late nineteenth and early twientieth century the Welsh Liberals acted as the home for radical Welsh nationalism. Through politicians such as T. E. ("Tom") Ellis and David Gee and the movement of Cymru Fydd (Wales to be) Welsh nationalism was comparable at times to that occurring in Ireland. Although in Wales the nationalist passion never spilled over into violence and was also counterbalanced by the strong English Liberal capitalist base present within the party. In 1906 the Welsh Liberals reached their peak when 35 of Wales 36 seats had MPs who took the Liberal whip. Up until 1922 the Welsh Liberal dominated Welsh politics and also played a central role in British politics. William Harcourt, Reginald McKenna, David Alfred Thomas, 1st Viscount Rhondda, Sir Alfred Mond and David Lloyd George were just a few of the politicians that held central positions in the party and the various Liberal led governments from 1906-1922. The various splits within the Liberal Party from 1918 onwards, the rise of the Welsh Labour Party in South Wales and the dominance of Lloyd George over the Welsh Liberal Party, all had their impact on Welsh Liberal fortunes. Despite this it was in Wales that the pre-war Liberals support lasted longest in post war British politics.
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Wikipedia