Berman pays tribute to ‘inspiration and mentor’ Baroness Jenny Randerson

Responding to the news that Baroness Jenny Randerson passed away at her home in Cardiff yesterday at the age of 76, the leader of the Liberal Democrat Group on Cardiff Council Rodney Berman said:

“This news is personally devastating to me. I have known and worked with Jenny closely for the last 30 years. In that time, she has been nothing short of an inspiration to me in her dedication to fighting for a better deal for others through the many important roles she held during a very distinguished political career.

“She has also been a terrific mentor to me in my own political career, showing me how to be such an effective campaigner for local communities and demonstrating how to deliver effectively in office when given that opportunity.

“When I first met her, I can remember just how encouraging she was to me. She quickly persuaded me to be a candidate for the upcoming local elections in Cardiff and was always a great source of sage advice.

“I will never forget working with her closely in the 1999 elections a few years later when the first elections to the new Welsh Assembly were being held on the same day as the Cardiff local elections. As well as fighting to gain a council seat myself at those elections, I worked with Jenny as her campaign manager with responsibility for producing campaign literature across the Cardiff Central constituency.

“I can remember how we persevered on despite some scepticism at the time from the party nationally that we could win. But we both knew better and carried on, surprising many when Jenny snatched the Cardiff Central Assembly seat from future First Minister Mark Drakeford whilst also winning 15 of the 20 council seats within the constituency, including my own.

“Jenny was also incredibly supportive to me later on during the eight years I served as the leader of Cardiff Council and we always kept a good and very productive working relationship throughout. 

“In more recent years she maintained her unwavering support, often battling ill health in order to join me on the campaign trail knocking on doors and delivering leaflets.

“We owe Jenny such a debt of gratitude and can be so proud of her being the first female Liberal Democrat politician to become a Minister in both the Welsh Government and later the UK Government. Her contribution to Welsh life and to politics over many decades has been nothing short of immense. I will so much miss being able to turn to her for advice and support and know that so many of my party colleagues in Cardiff and beyond share my devastation at her very sad passing.”

ENDS