Welsh Lib Dem politician Jenny Randerson dies aged 76

Baroness Jenny Randerson, a distinguished figure in Welsh politics and a dedicated public servant, has passed away at the age of 76. Her career was marked by significant contributions to Cardiff and Wales, reflecting her unwavering commitment to public service.

Born in 1948, Jenny Randerson began her professional journey in education, working as a secondary school teacher and later as a lecturer at Coleg Glan Hafren in Cardiff. Her passion for community development led her to serve as a Cardiff councillor from 1983 to 2000, during which she played a pivotal role in expanding the Welsh Liberal Democrat presence in the capital and led the council’s official opposition for four years.

In 1999, Randerson was elected to represent Cardiff Central in the newly established Welsh Assembly, defeating Labour candidate Mark Drakeford. She made history as the first female Liberal Democrat minister in the UK, serving as Minister for Culture, Sport, and the Welsh Language from 2000 to 2003, and as acting Deputy First Minister from July 2001 to June 2002. Her tenure was marked by initiatives such as introducing free entry to Wales’s national museums and the decision to build the Wales Millennium Centre, significantly enriching the cultural landscape of Wales.

After stepping down from the Assembly in 2011, Randerson was appointed a life peer, becoming the first female Welsh Liberal Democrat to hold ministerial office at Westminster as Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Wales. Her dedication extended beyond politics; she served as Chancellor of Cardiff University and was a patron of various charities, including the Wales Council for Deaf People and the African Mothers’ Foundation.

Welsh Liberal Democrat leader Jane Dodds remarked that Randerson’s work as a minister “left an indelible mark on our politics and society,” and that she would be “deeply missed by her family, friends, colleagues, and the many individuals whose lives she touched through her public service.”

Rodney Berman, Leader of the Liberal Democrat Group on Cardiff Council, described her as a “terrific mentor,” noting that her “contribution to Welsh life and to politics over many decades has been nothing short of immense.”

Baroness Randerson’s legacy is characterised by her steadfast dedication to the cultural and educational advancement of Cardiff and Wales, leaving a lasting impact on the community she served with passion and integrity.