Ed Davey backs Welsh Lib Dem leader Jane Dodds after rift

Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey has backed his leader in Wales, Jane Dodds, almost two years after he called her leadership into question.

The relationship between the pair has been strained ever since Sir Ed asked Dodds to reflect on her position over her handling of a sexual abuse case when she worked for the Church in England.

On Monday he told BBC Wales that Dodds had been an "excellent member of the Senedd" who deserved to be re-elected.

He brushed off questions about why he did not meet her when he visited Cardiff earlier this month, saying it was a "last minute decision to go".

After Sir Ed told the BBC in 2024 that Dodds should reflect on her position as Welsh leader, Dodds said she accepted "shortcomings" in the time it took for her to arrange a meeting to discuss a historic case against a bishop.

Dodds later admitted her relationship with the UK leader had "changed" and would "take time to repair".

It emerged earlier in April that Davey had gone to Cardiff to meet Senedd election candidates without his Wales leader.

BBC Wales was not invited to the event.

Speaking to BBC Wales on Monday, Sir Ed also said the visit was done at the last minute.

"We were trying to pack in so much. I've been all around the country. She and I exchanged messages [saying] I'm sorry we couldn't meet, but I met some fantastic candidates."

He said he had said "well done" to Jane Dodds for her position on social care and "some of her media performances".

"I'm so pleased because was her decision to put social care right at the heart of the Welsh Liberal Democrat manifesto.

"She has been flying the Liberal Democrat flag by herself in recent years but she's done really well on things like farming and care and education and I think she deserves to get re-elected."

The Lib Dems are hoping they can win as many as five Members of the Senedd (MSs) in the 7 May election - up from the one they had in the last parliament, which was Dodds.

The party wants to boost funding for social care, saying it would be prepared to put up income tax if necessary.

Opinion polls have suggested the party could come sixth in the Senedd election.

Sir Ed said he thinks there could be some "surprises in store".

"Before the 2024 election, people said we weren't going to do very well. We got our best result for 100 years," he said, referring to the overall result the Lib Dems received in Great Britain.

He refrained from putting numbers on how many Senedd members the party might win. "I think we can make gains," he said.

The Liberal Democrats have said they would insist that any government they support would not spend a penny on independence.

No party is likely to win outright control of the Senedd on 7 May and it is expected that groups will have to work together to some extent.

Asked if the policy meant that the Lib Dems were ruling out a deal with Plaid Cymru, Sir Ed declined to say, making the case it was a decision for Dodds.

"That is Jane Dodd's decision and the Welsh Liberal Democrat members of the Senedd. That's the whole point of devolution," he said.

"I actually think Jane has been very, very clear. The idea of independence is something we're completely against, we could waste a lot money but we are in favour of improving those core services that people depend on in Wales."