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'Target young voters' says German 'Target young voters' says German
(about 1 hour later)
The assembly Liberal Democrat leader has told his party's Welsh conference in Swansea they need to target younger voters ahead of May's election.The assembly Liberal Democrat leader has told his party's Welsh conference in Swansea they need to target younger voters ahead of May's election.
Mike German said tactics would include campaigning for the vote for 16-year-olds and targeting big university constituencies.Mike German said tactics would include campaigning for the vote for 16-year-olds and targeting big university constituencies.
But with the turnout amongst younger voters notoriously low, he acknowledged it would be tough.But with the turnout amongst younger voters notoriously low, he acknowledged it would be tough.
He also highlighted the need to create a fairer, greener future for Wales.He also highlighted the need to create a fairer, greener future for Wales.
In his speech, Mr German referred to the party's gains in the 2005 general election as inspiration for the coming Welsh poll.In his speech, Mr German referred to the party's gains in the 2005 general election as inspiration for the coming Welsh poll.
In the past we have won the argument, but lost the vote Mike GermanIn the past we have won the argument, but lost the vote Mike German
He said the Lib Dems could win extra seats in every part of Wales, and aspires to be the second largest party in the assembly after May.He said the Lib Dems could win extra seats in every part of Wales, and aspires to be the second largest party in the assembly after May.
At the moment the party has six assembly seats.At the moment the party has six assembly seats.
"If everyone who voted for us in 2005 votes for us again in 2007, we would be the second party in the assembly," he told the conference."If everyone who voted for us in 2005 votes for us again in 2007, we would be the second party in the assembly," he told the conference.
But he stressed the target would only be reached with the support of young people, whom he believes support the Lib Dems' opposition to top up fees, and the Iraq war.But he stressed the target would only be reached with the support of young people, whom he believes support the Lib Dems' opposition to top up fees, and the Iraq war.
Mr German also warned his party not to be distracted from their mission of creating a fairer, greener future for Wales, and said they still had a lot to gain before the May election.Mr German also warned his party not to be distracted from their mission of creating a fairer, greener future for Wales, and said they still had a lot to gain before the May election.
Proportional representation is a key policy for Sir MenziesProportional representation is a key policy for Sir Menzies
Making his keynote speech, Mr German encouraged his party to move on from difficult times.Making his keynote speech, Mr German encouraged his party to move on from difficult times.
He said: "So many times in the past we have won the argument, but lost the vote.He said: "So many times in the past we have won the argument, but lost the vote.
Those times are in the past."Those times are in the past."
Later, MP Lembit Opik's message to the conference was these are the most important six weeks in the life of the party.Later, MP Lembit Opik's message to the conference was these are the most important six weeks in the life of the party.
The Welsh Liberal Democrats told delegates that Wales was not well, and they must revive it.The Welsh Liberal Democrats told delegates that Wales was not well, and they must revive it.
He said Wales was like a "living, breathing dragon that was suffocating under a directionless Labour administration".He said Wales was like a "living, breathing dragon that was suffocating under a directionless Labour administration".
Mr Opik also refused the chance to talk about a possible assembly coalition, saying he would do so only after election. Mr Opik also refused the chance to talk about a possible assembly coalition, saying he would do so only after the election.
On Friday, in his speech to the party leader Sir Menzies Campbell stressed his "absolute" commitment to proportional representation in a speech to Welsh Liberal Democrats.On Friday, in his speech to the party leader Sir Menzies Campbell stressed his "absolute" commitment to proportional representation in a speech to Welsh Liberal Democrats.
Sir Menzies told activists they should be in "no doubt" about his commitment to PR for "every election".Sir Menzies told activists they should be in "no doubt" about his commitment to PR for "every election".
Five-step campaignFive-step campaign
In his speech, Sir Menzies also said his party's policies would mean an income tax cut for 1.4m people in Wales.In his speech, Sir Menzies also said his party's policies would mean an income tax cut for 1.4m people in Wales.
"Almost 200,000 of the poorest Welsh taxpayers will come out of national income tax altogether" he said."Almost 200,000 of the poorest Welsh taxpayers will come out of national income tax altogether" he said.
On law and order, he said the party had a "five-step campaign" to make Wales safer.On law and order, he said the party had a "five-step campaign" to make Wales safer.
It would ditch identity cards and spend the money on police, crackdown on anti-social behaviour and binge drinking, impose "honest sentences", make offenders repay their communities and change the compensation regime for victims.It would ditch identity cards and spend the money on police, crackdown on anti-social behaviour and binge drinking, impose "honest sentences", make offenders repay their communities and change the compensation regime for victims.