Welsh Lib Dem leader apologises for missing crucial vote as she defends Senedd attendance record
Getty ImagesThe leader of the Welsh Liberal Democrats has said she regrets missing a vote on the homelessness bill in the Senedd which meant amendments she supported failed to pass.
Speaking on BBC Politics Wales, Jane Dodds, the MS for Mid and West Wales said: "I regret missing that, I did not know that there were those critical amendments."
The amendments aimed to put greater responsibility on local authorities to protect victims of abuse, provide independent advice and to encourage a more preventative approach to tackling homelessness.
Homelessness charity Cymorth Cymru criticised the outcome, saying the failure was "frustrating" given the years of work that had gone into the legislation.
Both Dodds and Laura Anne Jones, the Reform Senedd Member for the South Wales East region missed the vote last month, but had one been present and voted against the government, the votes would have passed.
Dodds, who is the only Liberal Democrat member of the Senedd, said: "I've said very clearly to the organisations who drew attention to that and drew the media's attention, that I should have been there and I apologise for that."
In a statement, Cymorth Cymru, said: "It is incredibly disappointing and frustrating that so many amendments ended in a tied vote and ultimately failed to pass because some MSs were not in the Senedd to cast their vote.
"Three and a half years of work has gone into the development of this legislation, including engagement with over 300 people with lived experience of homelessness, who wanted to see their experiences reflected in the bill."
The charity confirmed it had received an email from Dodds in which she apologised for missing the vote and said that she was "committed to working with Cymorth Cymru and others to push for these protections to be delivered in practice, and to press the Welsh government to address the gaps that remain".
Voting record
Figures show Dodds has missed 50% of votes in the last two full years of the Senedd and 63% of votes so far in 2026.
Over the course of the last five years, she has been absent for an average of 39% of votes.
In response, she said: "I'm a sole member, I am somebody who has nobody around me and I'm a party leader as well.
"I'm in the Senedd when there are absolute priorities and I've been there for the legislation that's been passed."
BBC Wales Your Voice Live: Ask the Leader wants you to be in the audience and put your questions to the leaders of Wales' parties.
Click here to put your questions to the leaders of the Welsh Conservatives, Plaid Cymru and the Welsh Liberal Democrats in Haverfordwest on 8 April.
Click here to put your questions to the leaders of Welsh Labour, Reform UK and the Wales Green Party in Llandudno on 15 April.
