Independence 'a red line' for Lib Dems, insists Welsh leader

THE Welsh Liberal Democrats have listed their pledges and priorities ahead of the Senedd election.

- RUTH MOSALSKI Political editor [e-mail]

The election is on May 7, and the party hopes to grow from the sole Senedd member it had in the last Welsh parliament.

Party leader Jane Dodds made clear she doesn’t expect to be First Minister, but said the Lib Dems could have a key role to play.

This is because the new electoral system makes either a formal coalition, or parties having to work together, much more likely.

But at the launch of the party's manifesto in Cardiff yesterday, she listed her “red lines” - the areas where she would not negotiate.

Included in those was to “stop independence”. Both Plaid Cymru, which is leading in the polls, and the Greens have said they support Welsh independence.

Ms Dodds said she would not support Plaid spending money on a commission to look into the future of independence.

The manifesto says: “We will not spend a single penny of Welsh Government money on the independence agenda.”