Sir Ed Davey, leader of the Liberal Democrats, has publicly backed Welsh party leader Jane Dodds, nearly two years after he questioned her leadership. The relationship between the two has been tense since Davey suggested Dodds should reflect on her position following her handling of a sexual abuse case during her time working for the Church in England.
Speaking to BBC Wales on Monday, Davey praised Dodds as an "excellent member of the Senedd" who deserved re-election. He downplayed questions about why he did not meet her during a recent visit to Cardiff, describing it as a "last minute decision."
The rift began in 2024 when Davey criticized Dodds' handling of a historic abuse case involving a bishop. Dodds subsequently acknowledged "shortcomings" in arranging a meeting about the case and admitted the relationship with Davey had "changed" and would "take time to repair."
Earlier this month, Davey visited Cardiff to meet Senedd election candidates without Dodds, who said she was unable to attend due to another engagement. Davey said they exchanged messages expressing regret over not meeting.
Davey commended Dodds for placing social care at the centre of the Welsh Lib Dem manifesto and praised her media performances on issues like farming and education. "She has been flying the Liberal Democrat flag by herself in recent years but she's done really well," he said.
The Lib Dems hope to win up to five seats in the Senedd on 7 May, up from one held by Dodds in the last parliament. The party has pledged to boost funding for social care, potentially raising income tax if necessary. Opinion polls suggest the Lib Dems could finish sixth in the election, but Davey remains optimistic, noting that before the 2024 UK election, pundits underestimated the party's performance.
Davey declined to predict the exact number of seats but said he believes they can "make gains." On the possibility of a coalition with Plaid Cymru, Davey insisted it was Dodds' decision, reiterating the party's opposition to Welsh independence. "The idea of independence is something we're completely against — we could waste a lot of money. We are in favour of improving core services," he said.