Kirsty Williams has made her final speech in the Senedd as the first-ever representative of Brecon and Radnorshire at the National Assembly and Welsh Parliament.

The former leader of the Welsh Liberal Democrats and Education Minister said her constituency of 22 years was "truly the greatest that anyone could have had the privilege of representing".

Ms Williams is one of seven Members, including Dafydd Elis-Thomas and Ann Jones, who will not be returning to the Senedd. She announced last year that she would step down before May's Senedd election.

During her farewell speech at Wednesday's Plenary, Ms Williams told Members: "I rise for the final time as one of the originals, the class of 1999 still here, uninterrupted by acts of God, the electorate, or the lottery of the regional list system. But, in all seriousness, it has been a pleasure.

"But, it has become a little too fashionable to decry politics, to do down democracy, to undermine our own Parliament and Government. And I agree it might not be perfect, and I don't think that we want a perfect system empty of the debate and discussion, which leads to real change, but what we have built, what we are building, is a democracy fit for all the people of our nation.

"It is never a thing that is done; it is something that we must all keep doing, keep perfecting, keep extending, and I am so proud to have worked alongside so many others to make my contribution to that project.

"I still passionately believe that politics, as Robert Kennedy described it, is an honourable profession, and there is honour in finding common ground for the common good across parties and policies. Each serious party in the Senedd has made its own contribution to change and delivering for Wales over my two decades here, and despite our relative youth as a democracy, that is a sign of our maturity as a political institution and culture—having the courage to compromise and work together in a trustworthy and open manner when the occasion demands it.

"Differences are healthy, but lacking basic values, decency and respect certainly isn't, and in maintaining that respect for each other, we must always remember that this project is bigger than any one of us.

"Finally, Llywydd, I want to place on record my debt of gratitude to the staff who've supported me and the Welsh Liberal Democrats over years, both in constituency offices across the country and in Parliament. I want to thank the support latterly of the civil service here in Wales. I want to thank the Members of the Senedd for the friendship, the fellowship and, yes, fun that I have found here.

"And above all else, of course, I would like to thank the people of Brecon and Radnorshire for their support over the last two decades. I may be biased, but I am in no doubt that our constituency is truly the greatest that anyone could have had the privilege of representing. Diolch o galon."