I won't be beaten by death threats, says Welsh Lib Dem Jane Dodds

The leader of the Welsh Liberal Democrat leader Jane Dodds says death threats made against her will not stop her doing her job in the Welsh Parliament.

Dodds told BBC Wales that she had "a number of threats" made against her simply for being a politician.

But she said she would not be "beaten" by the threats and she also urged people not to be put off entering politics by them.

The only Liberal Democrat in the Senedd also defended plans to increase the number of members in Cardiff Bay from 60 to 96 saying "we really need that extra capacity".

Abuse faced by politicians was raised by a caller to The Phone-In on BBC Radio Wales.

Dodds told presenter Jason Mohammad: "I've had a number of threats made against me, all online, they are very serious threats... for being a politician, for the views I've held and sometimes they are not extreme."

"For example when I made a statement when I came off [social media platform X] and somebody wasn't happy with that because they wanted to scrutinise me and made threats to kill me in essence.

"That is with the police, as are others."

Dodds said she was now more personal security aware.

"I've had additional alarms and security placed in my house, including panic alarms, which go straight through to the police station.

"Now that is something that I imagined would not happen, however it is in place and I want to pay tribute to the police and others who've responded."

But Dodds added: "I also want to say that this should not put off anybody coming into politics.

"I know that's a difficult place to be, but we do this because we don't want to be beaten by people who make these threats."

"Please come into politics whoever you are, whatever your background is and make sure we speak about this, we talk about it because it's absolutely not acceptable."

When voters go to the polls in Wales in May, they will be electing an extra 36 MSs – with the current number of 60 going up to 96.

This move has been strongly opposed by the Conservatives but backed by the Lib Dems, Labour and Plaid Cymru.

On expanding the parliament, Dodds commented: "Before I joined the Senedd, I would have said 'absolutely not, what a ridiculous idea'

"But having been in the Senedd for the past five years, and seeing the amount of devolution and the powers that we now have as opposed to twenty-seven years ago, and also the budgets that we have to scrutinise, we do need those additional Senedd members.

"Most of us are on two or three committees, and that's where we scrutinise.

"That's where we look at the value for money, that's where we look at 'is it democratic and fair'.

"And we really need that extra capacity."

The Phone-In on BBC Radio Wales has invited each of the main Welsh party leaders or representatives on to the programme over six weeks.

Later this month, BBC Wales is holding a live debate in Wrexham with a panel of politicians ahead of the Senedd election. Click here to apply to be in the audience.