ED Davey says confidence is high that the Welsh Liberal Democrats can win one, if not both, of the Powys seats at the UK general election in five weeks’ time.
Mr Davey, the Liberal Democrat UK party leader, said Powys residents feel “let down” by the Conservatives and are also “angry” with Welsh Labour, and he claims that both of the redrawn Powys constituencies – Brecon, Radnor and Cwm Tawe and Montgomeryshire and Glyndwr – are up for grabs on July 4.
Mr Davey spoke to media in Powys on Wednesday, alongside Brecon, Radnor and Cwm Tawe candidate David Chadwick and party leader in Wales, Jane Dodds, as he launched the Welsh Lib Dem campaign in Knighton.
He arrived by bicycle, looking much more sturdy than he had done when campaigning from a paddle board in the Lake District on Tuesday, when he repeatedly fell into Windermere.
Mr Davey was greeted by Lib Dem supporters beneath Knighton clock tower, and said it was time for a change in Powys.
“We’re finding that people feel really let down by the Conservatives,” said Mr Davey, when asked if confidence was high that the party could take one or both of the Powys seats.
“People used to trust them with their money and you can’t anymore. You get businesses and farmers saying they thought they could trust them on the economy and they can’t.
“They’re pretty angry. I think some of them won’t vote to be honest with you, but some are switching to us, they see us as the best alternative.
“They’re also quite cross with Welsh Labour, that’s what we’re picking up. They feel Welsh Labour doesn’t understand rural communities and so that’s another reason people are switching, as well as our strong record here.”
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Both Powys constituencies have been Liberal held in the past, but have voted Conservative recently.
The Lib Dems have no MPs in Wales, since Plaid Cymru’s Ben Lake ousted Mark Williams in Ceredigion in 2017.
Bar the southern seat being held by Jonathan Evans from 1992-97, it was exclusively Lib Dem from Richard Livesey’s inaugural win at the 1985 by-election, all the way to 2015, when Chris Davies ousted three-term incumbent Roger Williams.
Ms Dodds held the seat briefly in August 2019 when she won a by-election following Mr Davies vacating the seat after pleading guilty to filing false expenses claims, triggering a recall petition, but she was then beaten at the December general election by Fay Jones.
In the north, Glyn Davies defeated Lembit Opik for the Conservatives in 2010 – ending 27 years of Lib Dem dominance – and it’s been in Tory hands ever since, with Craig Williams the current MP.
But Mr Davey believes “lifelong” Conservative voters are and will switch to Lib Dem.
“David Chadwick and the Liberal Democrats have been knocking on doors, talking to people, campaigning hard and listening to people,” added Mr Davey.
“We’re finding that lifelong conservatives, people who’ve never voted Liberal Democrat in the past, are thinking of voting or are already switching to us, which is really significant.
“We’re finding Labour supporters know they can’t win Brecon, Radnor and Cwm Tawe and some of them just want the Conservatives out, and are prepared to back David Chadwick.
“Many people remember that when they had Liberal Democrat voices – Richard Livesey, Roger Williams, Jane Dodds, Kirsty Williams in the Senedd – they had really good, strong, local representation, and I think they want that back again.”
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