Lib Dems face 'huge challenge' in assembly elections

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Ceredigion MP Mark Williams
Image caption,

Mr Williams was speaking from his party's UK conference in Bournemouth

Wales's only Liberal Democrat MP has admitted the party faces "a huge challenge" in next May's assembly elections.

But Mark Williams said the party could still end up with a "sizeable team" by campaigning on the ground in key areas.

The Ceredigion MP told Sunday Politics Wales the party should not be "distracted" by speculation about a possible coalition with other parties.

The Welsh Lib Dems are defending five seats next year.

They lost two of their three Westminster seats last May.

Mr Williams, speaking from the party's UK conference in Bournemouth, said: "We will see what the electorate gives us after the election but we are not going to get into this coalition talk at any stage now."

Mr Williams said that after the "disastrous" general election result this year, the Lib Dems needed to "re-establish and re-define the Liberal narrative" and be clear what they stood for.

Mr Williams said the Lib Dems would be highlighting their campaigns for social justice, internationalism, the "green agenda" and civil liberties.

"As the Tory party moves to the right and the Labour party moves to the left, there has never been a greater need for a Liberal party to campaign on people's behalf.," he said.