Tory leadership candidates willing to talk about governing with other parties

Both candidates in the Welsh Conservative leadership contest say they're prepared to talk to other parties about working together to form a government but say the final decision would be up to party members.

Suzy Davies and Paul Davies made their comments in a special edition of Sharp End in which they debated head-to-head for the first time. You can watch the full programme by clicking here.

The question of different parties working together in the Assembly in order to oust Labour from government has become increasingly significant with several politicians in both the Conservatives and Plaid Cymru publicly discussing the possibility.

Suzy Davies, the AM for South Wales West said:

She said she'd noted that members, 'particularly younger members..are being quite open minded about the prospect of working even quite formally with other parties.'

Her rival for the leadership Paul Davies also said he was comfortable working with politicians from other parties but said the final decision should rest with Welsh Conservative party members.

I asked the two candidates questions on a range of topics including policy areas, dealing with bullying and sexual harassment allegations and their personal backgrounds.

Paul Davies revealed that he hadn't spoken a word of English until he was five because he grew up on a farm 'in the heartlands of West Wales.' He acknowledged it was 'unusual' for someone from his background to join the Conservatives but said he was inspired and motivated by Margaret Thatcher.

Suzy Davies said that she too only spoke Welsh as a small child but lost it when she moved to the South Wales valleys as a youngster, since relearning it.

She had planned to reveal as her surprising fact that she'd been the first female electricity meter reader in Wales but recently discovered that that accolade actually belongs to a member of her own staff who'd also been employed by her (Suzy Davies') father.

'You have to have a heart in politics,' she told me. 'If you're not interested in people don't bother doing this.'

Paul Davies echoed that, adding that 'I believe in freedom of individuals, i believe in choice and I believe in personal responsibility.'

They agreed on a lot of things so for the members choosing a successor to Andrew RT Davies, their decisions may come down to questions of emphasis or personal preference.

One thing is clear: whichever one is elected, the issue of the leader's status won't go away.

It's long been an issue. During his leadership Andrew RT Davies pushed party officials and structures to recognise the post he occupied as leader of the wider Welsh Conservative party.

David Cameron told me in 2012, 'I see Andrew as the leader of the Conservatives in Wales.'

But the ballot paper and party literature is emphatic that whichever of the two AMs is elected the rôle they will be filling is leader of the Welsh Conservative Assembly group, nothing more.

Party chair Brandon Lewis angered those within the party who want to see the group leader formally acknowledged as Welsh leader in his answers to me last week at the Royal Welsh Show.

Both candidates say that situation needs to change.

This may have been the first time the two have debated head-to-head as leadership candidates but they'll be getting used to it soon with a full week of hustings meetings planned across Wales next week.

The winner of the contest will be announced on September 6th.