A report published today (3^rd Feb) by the House of Commons Library has placed Montgomeryshire 643^rd in Britain (out of 645) for Superfast Broadband speeds – a mere 1% coverage.    

February is the month of the 2015 European Tree of the Year Competition. And the famous Lonely Tree - the Mid Wales landmark blown down in a storm - is in the running! Now it just needs votes. BBC2 Springwatch presenter Iolo Williams will appear at the Lonely Tree on Feb 8th to campaign for the award: “LET’S WIN IT FOR WALES!”

Jane Dodds, Parliamentary Candidate for Montgomeryshire, has welcomed the introduction of measures to grant the Groceries Code Adjudicator (GCA) powers to fine UK supermarkets.

The Adjudicator will be able to impose penalties on large retailers of up to one per cent of a companies’ annual UK turnover, dependent on the seriousness of the breach of the Code.

Jane Dodds, Liberal Democrat Parliamentary Candidate for Montgomeryshire, has described today’s ambulance figures as ‘appalling’ and ‘inexcusable’, after they show the worst response times since records began.

The proportion of ambulances in Wales hitting the response time target of eight minutes for the most urgent calls fell well below half in December.

Deputy Prime Minister and leader of the Liberal Democrats, Nick Clegg, joined Montgomeryshire Parliamentary Candidate Jane Dodds to celebrate the latest small business and apprenticeship success story.

Mr Clegg visted the Nag’s Head in Garthmyl to meet with chef’s apprentice Jacob Sampson, and pub owner Bryn Evans. Fighting against Labour plans to drastically cut the number of apprenticeships in Wales, The Welsh Liberal Democrats instead secured funding an additional 5,000 as part of the Assembly Government’s Annual Budget. 

Jane Dodds, Liberal Democrat Candidate for Montgomeryshire has called into question senior Conservative MP, Owen Pattersons backing  for a single Accident and Emergency unit for Shropshire comes as a real worry for the people of Montgomeryshire.

Winners of the Montgomeryshire Liberal Democrats from September until December 2014 - Check below to see if you have won! 

I was delighted to take part in the Centre for Alternative Technology (CAT) and Action for Renewables debate at the Royal Oak in Welshpool on Thursday November 27^th. Joining me for the debate was Simon Thomas, (Plaid Cymru) and Glyn Davies, (Conservative MP for Montgomeryshire).

Andrew Slaughter (Green Party), Joyce Watson (Labour Party), and Nathan Gill (UKIP), were, due to various unfortunate circumstances, unable to attend. However, the room was filled to the brim with an audience of around 100 enthusiastic and engaged guests.

On Sunday 26th October the Montgomeryshire Liberal Democrats teamed up with Montgomeryshire Wildlife Trust to organise a fun run and help raise money towards the 30 Days to Save Dolforwyn campaign.  

William Powell AM, Welsh Liberal Democrat Spokesperson for Rural Affairs, has welcomed the Welsh Government’s U-turn on its plan to introduce a new system of compensation for cattle culled under the TB eradication programme. They have now embraced the Welsh Liberal Democrat position of maintaining the present system.