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2008 Welsh Liberal Democrats leadership election

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Candidate Kirsty Williams Jenny Randerson Popular vote 910 612 Percentage 59.8% 40.2%

Leader before election Mike German Leader after election Kirsty Williams

The 2008 Welsh Liberal Democrats leadership election took place in the autumn of 2008 following the resignation of Mike German. Two Assembly Members contested the leadership Jenny Randerson and Kirsty Williams.

Kirsty Williams won the contest with 59.8% of the vote and was declared leader on 8 December 2008, who became the first female party leader in Wales.

Election rules

The Welsh Liberal Democrats had reviewed their leadership rules during their 2007 Autumn Conference in Aberystwyth and during their 2008 Autumn Conference in Clydach.

To stand for leader candidates needed to be an elected member of The National Assembly for Wales and have the support of 10% of AMs (i.e. one other colleague).

Timeline

Mike German became party leader in 2007 (having served as Assembly group leader since 1999) and indicated that he would stand down in 2008. Kirsty Williams announced in summer of 2008 that she would run, formally launching her campaign on 10 September. Mike German formally announced his resignation during the Welsh Liberal Democrats Autumn Conference in Clydach on 11 October 2008 and Jenny Randerson formally announced her candidature that afternoon and launched her campaign in early November.

The winner was announced at an event in the Wales Millennium Centre on 8 December 2008.

Candidates

Declined

• Peter Black
• Mick Bates
• Eleanor Burnham

Declared

Candidate	Born	Seat	AM Endorsements	Other Endorsements
Kirsty Williams	19 March 1971 (age 37)	AM for Brecon and Radnorshire	2 / 6 • Mick Bates Peter Black	Roger Williams MP, Mark Williams MP
Jenny Randerson	26 May 1948 (age 60)	AM for Cardiff Central	1 / 6 • Eleanor Burnham	Lembit Öpik MP, Jenny Willott MP, Cllr Rodney Berman, Cllr Aled Roberts Simon Hughes MP

Result

Candidate		Votes	%
Turnout: 68.1%
	Kirsty Williams Y	910		59.8
	Jenny Randerson	612		40.2
Total		1,522	68.1%	—

Williams went on to serve as leader for seven and a half years until her resignation following the 2016 elections to the Welsh Assembly.

References

1. "Race open for new Lib Dem leader". BBC Wales. 11 October 2008. Retrieved 29 June 2020.
2. "Williams election 'breaks mould'". BBC Wales. 8 December 2008. Retrieved 29 June 2020.
3. "Williams' leadership bid". BBC Wales. 10 September 2008. Retrieved 30 June 2020.
4. "Race open for new Lib Dem leader". BBC Wales. 11 October 2008. Retrieved 29 June 2020.
5. "AM Starts Lib Dem leadership bid". BBC Wales. 3 November 2008. Retrieved 30 June 2020.
6. "Williams' leadership bid". BBC Wales. 10 September 2008. Retrieved 29 June 2020.
7. "AM Starts Lib Dem leadership bid". BBC Wales. 3 November 2008. Retrieved 29 June 2020.
8. "AM Starts Lib Dem leadership bid". BBC Wales. 3 November 2008. Retrieved 29 June 2020.
9. Deacon, Russell (2013). The Welsh Liberals. Welsh Academic Press. p. 295.
10. Deacon, Russell (2013). The Welsh Liberals. Welsh Academic Press. p. 295.
11. "Assembly Election 2016: Welsh Liberal Democrat leader Kirsty Williams stands down". Wales Online. 6 May 2016. Retrieved 29 June 2020.

• 2000s elections in Wales
• Leaders of political parties in Wales
• Welsh Liberal Democrats leadership elections
• 2008 political party leadership elections