Andrew RT Davies | |
---|---|
Leader of the Welsh Conservative Group in the Senedd | |
Assumed office 24 January 2021 | |
Leader | Boris Johnson Liz Truss Rishi Sunak |
Preceded by | Paul Davies |
In office 14 July 2011 –27 June 2018 | |
Deputy | Paul Davies |
Leader | David Cameron Theresa May |
Preceded by | Nick Bourne |
Succeeded by | Paul Davies |
Leader of the Opposition | |
Assumed office 24 January 2021 | |
Monarchs | Elizabeth II Charles III |
First Minister | Mark Drakeford Vaughan Gething |
Preceded by | Paul Davies |
In office 6 April 2017 –27 June 2018 | |
Monarch | Elizabeth II |
First Minister | Carwyn Jones |
Preceded by | Leanne Wood [1] |
Succeeded by | Paul Davies |
In office 14 July 2011 –5 May 2016 | |
Monarch | Elizabeth II |
First Minister | Carwyn Jones |
Preceded by | Paul Davies |
Succeeded by | Leanne Wood |
Shadow Minister for Education,Lifelong Learning and Skills | |
In office 16 June 2008 –1 July 2009 | |
Leader | Nick Bourne |
Preceded by | Alun Cairns |
Succeeded by | Paul Davies |
Shadow Minister for Transport | |
In office 11 July 2007 –16 June 2008 | |
Leader | Nick Bourne |
Preceded by | Office established |
Succeeded by | David Melding |
Member of the Senedd for South Wales Central | |
Assumed office 3 May 2007 | |
Preceded by | Jonathan Morgan |
Member of the Vale of Glamorgan Council for Rhoose | |
In office 15 February 2019 –5 May 2022 | |
Preceded by | Matthew Lloyd |
Majority | 772 (41.66%) |
Personal details | |
Born | 1968 (age 55–56) Cowbridge,Wales |
Political party | Conservative |
Andrew RT Davies CBE (born 1968) is a Welsh politician serving as Leader of the Welsh Conservative Group in the Senedd since 2021,previously holding the position from 2011 to 2018. He has been a Member of the Senedd (MS) since 2007. [2]
He was elected Leader of the Welsh Conservatives in the Senedd on 14 July 2011, [3] [4] resigning the position on 27 June 2018. [5] He was re-appointed as Welsh Conservative leader on 24 January 2021, [6] [7] following the resignation of Paul Davies. [8]
Davies was educated at Llanfair Primary School,St John's Preparatory School,Porthcawl,and later boarded at Wycliffe College,Stroud. [9] He is married to a qualified midwife and they have four children. [9] He is a partner in the family farming business based in St Hilary near Cowbridge in the Vale of Glamorgan. [10] Davies was a Welsh delegate on the Council of the National Farmers Union (NFU), [3] vice-president of the local Young Farmers Club,and is a former Chairman of Creative Communities, [11] which seeks to develop structural community development. Davies is also a life governor of the Royal Welsh Agricultural Society,and was the Society's Oxford Farming Conference Scholar in 2002. [11] He is a former governor at Llanfair Primary School. [12]
Joining the Conservative Party in 1997,Davies fought Cardiff West in the 2001 general election, [13] and Brecon and Radnorshire in 2005. [14] He served as Deputy Chairman (Political) for the Conservative Party in South Wales Central from 2002 to 2003,a region that comprises the Conservative Associations in Cardiff,Rhondda Cynon Taff and the Vale of Glamorgan. Between 2004 and 2005 he was Deputy Chairman of the Cardiff West Conservative Association. In 2007,he was elected to the National Assembly of Wales on the South Wales Central regional list. [2] Davies' political interests include education,health and rural affairs.
In the Third Assembly he was appointed Shadow Minister for Transport in the Senedd from 7 July 2007 to 16 June 2008, [15] and Shadow Minister for Education,Lifelong Learning and Skills from 16 June 2008. [15] He also sat on the Assembly's Petitions Committee and the Subordinate Legislation Committee. [15] In 2009 he became the Shadow Minister for Health in the National Assembly for Wales. [15] He has also won an award for being "Assembly Member to Watch" in December 2008. [11]
He was elected as Leader of the Welsh Conservative Group on 14 July 2011,having won 53.1 per cent of the vote. [16]
In June 2018,Wales Online led an investigation into what they described as Davies keeping his "public constituency office hidden from the public". [17] The piece stated the office was located in a "wooden cabin 50 yards beyond a vehicle security barrier on a rural farm estate". [17] In a freedom of information response by the Assembly Commission, [17] the address of the office was confirmed as Penllyn Estate,Llwynhelig,Cowbridge CF71 7FF, [17] a 1,200-acre mixed farm operation. The information only came to light after the FOI request by a Conservative Party member. [17] A spokesperson for Davies responded to the investigation by stating the arrangements had been made "following a security incident at Andrew’s previous office on Cowbridge High Street where police attended to support a female employee", [17] necessitating a more secure location. They continued stating that "Andrew regularly hosts constituents and organisations at his office and if he knew a Western Mail journalist had intended to visit he would’ve been there to welcome him with the kettle on". [17]
Davies led criticism of Natural Resources Wales in November 2018,particularly around their selling of timber on a closed rather than open market. [18] He has proposed splitting NRW into two separate bodies,and described the "bloated and largely incompetent quango" body as "no longer fit for purpose". [18] Plaid agriculture spokesman Llyr Gruffydd however stated the issues faced by NRW were down to the 35% real terms cut in their budget and the organisation being under resourced. [18]
Davies responded to concerns raised by Airbus in June 2018 regarding the threat of a no-deal Brexit by stating that "there is a lot of hyperbole flying around" regarding a no deal Brexit. The comments were criticised by Conservative figures including Guto Bebb. [19] Bebb went on to dispute Davies title as "Leader of the Welsh Conservatives",stating he only led the Assembly group. [19] Secretary of State Alun Cairns described Airbus' comments as a "wake-up call" for "one of the jewels in the crown of UK manufacturing". [19] A number of Davies' Welsh Conservative colleagues,including Secretary of State Alun Cairns,Mr Davies' Deputy,Paul Davies,and Monmouth AM Nick Ramsay,were all Remain supporters,in contrast to Davies role as a Vote Leave voice in the Welsh Conservatives. [20]
In Spring 2018,a text was reportedly sent by Cairns which discussed with Welsh Conservative AMs how and when to remove Davies. [21] Davies initially only stated that a figure in Westminster had sent the text,but refused to name the individual. [22] This text was reportedly sent to Davies by accident,describing how "the other end of the M4" were in support of his replacement. [21]
In around April 2018,it was rumoured that his Deputy Leader Paul Davies was planning a leadership challenge to Davies. [20] Amid internal discussions in the party,Nick Ramsay reportedly made it clear to Mr Davies that they did not like each other prior to his resignation, [20] and an AM reportedly "stormed out" of a dinner regarding the leadership of the party after Davies had spoken,who later was reported to be Ramsay. [23]
Davies resigned as Leader of the Welsh Conservatives on 27 June 2018. [24] A source close to Davies described the events at the time as "the revenge of Tory Remainers who can’t forgive him for going against Cameron and campaigning for a Leave vote in the Brexit referendum." [20] Davies resignation was viewed by some in the media as sparked by Davies' "inflammatory remarks" towards Airbus. [23] Sources close to Davies however spoke to the media and stated they felt he had been victim of "a plot to get rid of him for "seven or eight weeks" [20] dating back to his controversial "decision to back a Leave vote in the 2016 Brexit referendum" which came against the wishes of then Prime Minister David Cameron,who had backed Remain. [20]
In 2019,Davies was reported by Wales Online as having the highest budget for constituency office spending of any AM in the five Assembly political groups,with a spend of £102,655,including £35,182 for a salary for his wife Julia. Davies did not respond to requests for comments in the piece. [25]
In a June 2019 op-ed on Nation.Cymru,Davies stated his top wishes from an incoming Conservative Prime Minister for Wales would be: [26]
Following the storming of the United States Capitol by supporters of Donald Trump on 6 January 2021,Davies was criticised for comparing the riot to other British politicians' opposition to Brexit. [28]
He was appointed as Leader of the Welsh Conservatives Group on 24 January 2021, [7] following the resignation of Paul Davies,after a scandal involving possible breaches of Welsh COVID-19 regulations. [8]
In a July 2021 op-ed for Mail+ ,Davies accused the Welsh media of being "in hock to the nationalist agenda". He wrote:"This is what's in store for us in the Senedd over the next five years:listening to Labour ministers regurgitate historically ignorant,politically extreme ideas and a demonstrably poor understanding of sovereignty in Britain as they call for a federalist system that will only serve to worsen,not solve,the issues present in Wales." [29]
During the Brexit referendum campaign,Davies suggested Wales would be better off financially outside the European Union,stating that if the UK voted to leave,it could mean "Wales could be as much as half a billion pounds a year better off". [30]
In a July 2016 interview with WalesOnline,Davies insisted that,as a result of Brexit "Wales must not lose a penny of the money that has historically flowed into Wales". [31] However,after the referendum,the Secretary of State for Wales Alun Cairns,confirmed that the UK Government would in fact reduce the amount allocated for Wales (which the European Union had earmarked at £1.9 billion for the period 2014 to 2020). [32]
In the run-up to the UK's invocation of Article 50 of the Treaty on European Union,Davies claimed that the Welsh Government should be denied the right to be part of Brexit negotiations on devolved areas. [33]
Despite his firm anti-EU stance,Davies' family firm TJ Davies and Sons had accepted a total of £96,808.89 in EU subsidies over the period 16 October 2013 to 15 October 2014 alone,including £70,930.63 allocated under the Single Area payment scheme,£24,099.86 in agro-environmental payments,and £1,728.40 from the first Afforestation of Agricultural Land scheme. [34] Commenting on the revelation of these figures, Britain Stronger in Europe spokesman James McGrory said "taking money from Europe while saying we should leave is hypocrisy of the first order." [35]
In September 2019,Davies criticised proposals by the Liberal Democrats,Labour,and other parties which would force Prime Minister Boris Johnson to seek an extension to Article 50 if it prevented a no deal exit from the European Union. He described the avoidance of Brexit on 31 October as a "betrayal of democracy". [36] He criticised First Minister Mark Drakeford for recalling the Welsh Assembly to debate Brexit,stating that the decision would "achieve nothing",and joined Conservative ministers in voting against a motion criticising the UK Government's handling of a no deal exit. [37]
Davies was elected as a County Councillor for Rhoose in a by-election on 14 February 2019, [38] and claims a salary of £13,868 before expenses, [39] alongside his salary as a Senedd Member.
Davies was made a Commander of the Order of British Empire (CBE) in the 2020 New Year Honours,"for political and public service". [40]
David Robert Michael Melding is a former Welsh Conservative Party politician,who served as a Member of the Senedd (MS) for South Wales Central between 1999 and 2021. He was the Deputy Presiding Officer of the Senedd between 2011 and 2016.
Alun Hugh Cairns is a Welsh Conservative Party politician serving as the member of Parliament (MP) for Vale of Glamorgan since 2010. He served as Secretary of State for Wales from 2016 to 2019.
Nick Ramsay is a British politician who served as the Member of the Senedd (MS) for Monmouth from 2007 to 2021. Originally a member of the Welsh Conservatives,he served as Shadow Minister of Finance under Conservative Leader in the Senedd,Paul Davies,but lost the position in January 2021 under the new leadership of Andrew RT Davies. Ramsay sat as an Independent member before unsuccessfully seeking reelection as an Independent in the 2021 Senedd election.
Darren David Millar is a Welsh Conservative politician who has served as the Member of the Senedd (MS) for Clwyd West since 2007.
The Welsh Conservatives is the branch of the United Kingdom Conservative Party that operates in Wales. At Westminster elections,it is the second-most popular political party in Wales,having obtained the second-largest share of the vote at every general election since 1931. In Senedd elections,the Conservatives are currently the second-most supported party but have at times been third. They hold 14 of the 40 Welsh seats in the UK Parliament,and 16 of the 60 seats in the Senedd.
Thomas Alun Rhys Davies is a Welsh Labour and Co-operative party politician serving as the Member of the Senedd (MS) for Blaenau Gwent since 2011,and formerly Mid and West Wales from 2007 to 2011. He has served in several Welsh government offices,including Cabinet Secretary for Local Government and Public Services,Minister for Lifelong Learning and Welsh Language,and Minister for Natural Resources and Food.
Paul Windsor Davies is a British politician who currently serves as Member of the Senedd (MS) for Preseli Pembrokeshire,a position he has held since 2007 election. He gained the seat from Labour and was re-elected in May 2011,May 2016 and again in May 2021.
Mark John Reckless is a British lawyer and former politician who served as a Member of the Senedd (MS) for South Wales East from 2016 until 2021,having previously served as Member of Parliament (MP) for Rochester and Strood from 2010 to 2015. Initially a member of the Conservative Party,he crossed the floor to join the UK Independence Party (UKIP) in September 2014. He has since changed parties a further three times.
Suzy Davies is a Welsh Conservative Party politician,who served as a Member of the Senedd (MS) for South Wales West from 2011 to 2021. She was elected first on the Welsh Conservatives party list for the region in the 2011 election.
Lee Waters is a Welsh Labour and Co-operative politician who served as Deputy Minister for Climate Change from 2021 to 2024. He has served as the Member of the Senedd (MS) for Llanelli since 2016.
This is a list of Assembly Memberselected to the fifth National Assembly for Wales at the 2016 election. In May 2020,the representatives were renamed to Members of the Seneddin the fifth Senedd,they would be known as the fifth Senedd for the remainder of their term. From the 2021 election members would be elected under this new title of Senedd. There are a total of 60 members elected,40 were elected from first past the post constituencies with a further 20 members being returned from five regions,each electing four AMs through mixed member proportional representation. In between elections,members of the legislature may not necessarily be of the same party or the same candidate elected in 2016.
The 2021 Senedd election took place on Thursday 6 May 2021 to elect 60 members to the Senedd. It was the sixth devolved general election since the Senedd was established in 1999. The election was held alongside the Scottish Parliament election,English local elections,London Assembly and mayoral election and the Hartlepool by-election.
The 2011 Welsh Conservatives leadership election was held on 14 July 2011. Andrew RT Davies defeated Nick Ramsay,the only other candidate.
The 2018 Welsh Conservatives leadership election was triggered on 27 June by the resignation of Andrew RT Davies.
In the Senedd,the Leader of the Opposition is the leader of the largest political party in the Senedd that is not part of government and provides the official opposition to the government. Since 7 May 2021 the Leader of the Opposition in the Senedd is Andrew RT Davies (Conservative). To date the office has been held by six individuals,three from Plaid Cymru and three from the Welsh Conservatives. Only one,Ieuan Wyn Jones,has gone on to serve in the Welsh Government.
Events from the year 2019 in Wales.
In the run-up to the 2021 Senedd election,various organisations carried out opinion polling to gauge voting intentions. Results of such polls are displayed in this list. Most of the pollsters listed are members of the British Polling Council (BPC) and abide by its disclosure rules.
Paul Davies became the Leader of the Opposition in Wales after being elected as Leader of the Welsh Conservatives on 27 June 2018 and named his Shadow Cabinet in July.
Andrew RT Davies became the Leader of the Opposition in Wales on the 24 January 2021 after the resignation of Paul Davies as leader the following day.
Andrew RT Davies became the Leader of the Opposition in Wales on the 24 January 2021 after the resignation of Paul Davies as leader the following day. After the 2021 Senedd election the Welsh Conservatives got a record 16 seats out of 60,and Andrew R. T. Davies remained in the post.
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