Andrew RT Davies has today announced he will stand down as Leader of the Welsh Conservative Senedd Group, once a successor is elected.
Andrew’s resignation letter can be found below.
***
Bernard Gentry
Chairman, Welsh Conservative Party
Sent by email
3rd December 2024
Dear Bernard
I write to inform you of my resignation as Leader of the Welsh Conservative Group in the Senedd, once a successor is elected. I do so with regret.
While the past 24 months have been particularly difficult for the Conservative Party across the United Kingdom, I looked forward to leading our party’s campaign in the 2026 Senedd elections with optimism. Recent successes at local government level, in which large Labour majorities were overturned, shows what can be achieved when community-minded candidates work hard and are in touch with the views and concerns of the people they wish to represent.
As we all know, public services in Wales perform at unacceptably poor levels. Standards in our Welsh NHS and schools fall far behind their counterparts in the rest of the United Kingdom. These failures are the direct result of the approach taken by Labour ministers in the Senedd, propped up by Plaid Cymru nationalists, who have chosen instead to prioritise divisive, ideologically motivated policies that are corrosive to our society. Examples include, but are not limited to, 20mph speed limits; commissioning reports that call for dog-free zones to be introduced in the countryside to tackle racism; the damaging Sustainable Farming Scheme; and the controversial “Nation of Sanctuary” plan.
To me, addressing these issues head on is a point of principle. But it is also clear that doing so is the only viable strategy to achieve electoral success in 2026. Any other approach, particularly one that results in obfuscation and failure to confront controversial subjects the public demands we tackle, risks electoral oblivion. Recent election results in other western democracies prove this is the case. This risk is amplified further by the new proportional electoral system for Senedd elections, under which there is no scope to gain anti-Labour “tactical votes”. If implemented in full, the approach we were taking would have united the centre right vote in Wales, won over new support to the Conservative Party and yielded an unprecedentedly strong set of results.
Over recent months, it has become increasingly difficult to take this necessary approach, due to resistance from some members within the Senedd Group. In many cases, it was impossible to offer clarity of message, with statements contradicted publicly by certain members. This made it unclear to the public exactly what the Conservative Party in Wales stands for.
Last week, a group of Senedd members approached me, threatening to resign their positions in shadow cabinet if I did not agree to step down as leader. I therefore requested a motion of confidence in my leadership to be held at a meeting this morning. This vote has now taken place. It was clear from the result that a substantial minority of the Group do not support our approach, despite it being the only viable strategy available. While I would have been honoured to continue as leader, my position is consequently untenable.
I would like to take this opportunity to offer my heartfelt thanks to those Senedd members who did support me and all our hardworking staff. Similarly, I would like to thank our dedicated party members and grassroots supporters, who are the lifeblood of our party. Without their commitment to paying their membership fees, knocking doors, delivering leaflets and raising funds, we would be unable to further the conservative cause. They do so not out of financial motivation or in the interests of personal gain, but because they believe passionately in conservative values and in the United Kingdom as our nation state. This stands in direct contrast to some Conservative Senedd members.
While there was significant resistance to our approach among certain elements of the Senedd Group, it is clear there is widespread support and enthusiasm among our wider party membership. Similarly, in those instances in which we were able to offer clarity of message, and were not undermined by some members of our own group, there was strong support among the general public too. Our campaigns against 36 more Senedd members, and the 20mph speed limits imposed on Wales by Labour, Plaid Cymru nationalists and the Liberal Democrats, are such examples. So too is our campaign supporting Welsh farmers against Labour’s ideologically motivated policies.
Wales and the United Kingdom currently stand at a crossroads. Many people feel voiceless, believing that too few people in public life speak up for them. It is therefore vital those who are in a position to do so step up to the plate. While my tenure as leader has come to an end, I look forward to continuing in my role as a Senedd member and standing for re-election in 2026. I will continue to champion the causes that matter not only to me but also to the wider public in Wales, and use the profile that I have to help amplify them.
Moving forward, it is clear the Welsh Conservative Party must decide exactly what it stands for. This is a decision in which everyone must be given their say. It is therefore imperative that a contest is held to elect my successor, with party members given the opportunity to choose. There must be a healthy debate in which the candidates, their ideas and qualities are placed under robust scrutiny. To confirm, I will not be standing in this contest.
Once again, I would like to take the opportunity to thank the Welsh public and party members for giving me the opportunity to serve. Public service is a privilege and I will remain forever grateful for being given the chance to play my part.
Kind regards,
Andrew RT Davies MS
South Wales Central Regional MS