Williams makes Cardiff Bay debut

By Adrian Browne
BBC Wales political reporter

Kirsty Williams is the first female leader of a main Welsh political party

After three months of campaigning, and despite a decisive victory in the battle to become Welsh Liberal Democrat leader, Kirsty Williams was a little apprehensive as she prepared for her debut at first minister's questions on Tuesday.

When she launched her campaign, she, a little emotionally, rejected claims she wasn't a "strategic thinker" - shorthand for lacking depth, intellectual firepower etc.

The criticism seemed to sting her and, as she prepared to face the one-man think tank that is First Minister Rhodri Morgan, she took a few deep breaths to steady her nerves.

She was in her seat early and Mr Morgan strode over amiably to congratulate her on her victory, before the session began.

Clad in black, on her right hand side was Peter Black, an enthusiastic founder-member of the Kirsty Williams fan club.

Her predecessor, Mike German, and the woman she defeated, Jenny Randerson, were ensconced on the other side of the aisle - physically separating both new and old Lib Dem regimes, and the alternative leadership rejected by most party members.

A line of ultra-loyal Liberal Democrats with beaming smiles filled a row in the public gallery, as she fiddled nervously with her notes, waiting for her turn.

Hope on its own is not a strategy

Kirsty Williams makes her first contribution as leader in the chamber

Challenge

Eleanor Burnham, the only Liberal Democrat AM to publicly back Jenny Randerson, asked Mr Morgan about alcohol abuse in Wales.

Ms Williams linked booze problems to the economic downturn, asking Mr Morgan to acknowledge that his "so called One Wales (assembly) government" was presiding over two countries - a Wales of "haves" and another of "have nots".

It would have been little surprise to her that the first minister did not agree.

He and his colleagues were doing all they could to help transform downturn into upturn.

Ms Williams tried again.

"Hope on its own is not a strategy," she cried. How would he "protect Welsh jobs and Welsh families?"

The first minister explained some of what was being done - measures welcomed, with a bit of qualification, by Kirsty Williams.

'Phew'

She had one last stab at getting Mr Morgan to say that the gap between rich and poor in Wales was "getting wider".

"I don't want to fall out with you today, Kirsty, on your first day," responded Mr Morgan, gently, as friendly cross-party chuckles filled the assembly chamber.

"I absolutely rebut what you have said," he said.

"We're all in this together," he continued, including political leaders and "all parts of Wales", as he sought to bring a bi-partisan end to his first sparring match with his new political opponent.

Asking right-hand man Mr Black, who was quite excited by now, if she'd done alright, she let out a relieved "phew" as he reassured her she'd risen to the moment.

Another Kirsty Williams loyalist, AM Mick Bates, had described her during her campaign as "the nearest Wales has to an Obama".

Satisfied that "change" had come to the assembly chamber, the row of loyal, still smiling, Lib Dems gave Kirsty a few thumbs up and trooped from the gallery.