Welsh Conservatives set out timetable to find new leader in Assembly

The Welsh Conservatives have started the process of choosing their next leader following the sudden resignation of Andrew RT Davies on Wednesday.

If there are three or more candidates, Tory AMs choose the top two but the final choice is left to party members.

The Conservatives' Welsh Board has set the following timetable:

• Nomination papers issued: 29 June.

• Close of Nominations: 16 July.

• Nominations announced: 17 July.

• Ballot of Tory AMs if there are three or more nominations 24 July.

• Hustings for top two candidates: 30 July to 10 August.

• Ballot papers posted to all party members in Wales: 15 August.

• Deadline for return of postal ballots: 5 September)

• Count and Declaration 6 September

The Conservatives expect to have a new leader in place before Welsh Labour has decided on the rules for choosing Carwyn Jones' successor.

They may not even have to wait until September, if only one AM gets the required nominations from at least three members of the Tory group.