Andrew RT Davies to step down as Welsh Conservatives leader

Andrew RT Davies is set to stand down as leader of the Welsh Conservatives in the Senedd.

The news comes less than two hours after he narrowly survived a confidence vote in his leadership of the Welsh Conservative group.

Mr Davies said a “substantial minority” of his party does not support him and his position is “untenable”.

The confidence vote was held during a meeting of the Senedd group on Tuesday, 3 December, where nine Senedd Members including Mr Davies himself backed him continuing in post while seven said they did not have confidence in him.

It followed a meeting between Mr Davies and a group of Senedd Members who expressed their dissatisfaction with his leadership.

Mr Davies, Member of the Senedd for South Wales Central, will stand down once a successor has been elected.

Darren Millar MS has announced he will be standing for the leadership, backed by Paul Davies MS.

In a letter, Mr Davies said: "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."

Mr Davies thanked his supporters and staff and said his approach had enjoyed “widespread support” among the membership.

His letter added: “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.”

He said the Welsh Conservative Party must “decide exactly what it stands for” and confirmed he will not stand in the leadership contest to find his successor.

Nigel Huddleston MP, co-chairman of the Conservative Party, said: "I would like to thank Andrew RT Davies for his dedication and leadership of the Welsh Conservatives.

"Over 10 years he has done a great job in holding the Welsh Labour Government to account - never missing an opportunity to highlight their mishandling of the NHS, roads and the economy.

"The whole Conservative Party is united in renewing the Party for the future and I know that Andrew will help us with that mission as he continues in his role as an Assembly Member."

Reform UK Wales spokesman Oliver Lewis said: "True to form, the Tories have turfed out another leader thinking that will resurrect their failing party. They care more about jousting for position than they do about serving Welsh people.

"It does not matter who they have as leader, the simple fact is they have failed in opposition just as they failed Wales in Government in Westminster for 14 years.

"The people of Wales want real change in 2026 and that is just what we plan to offer them. Wales needs Reform."

A Welsh Labour spokesperson said “the reality is that it doesn't matter who leads the Welsh Conservatives.

“They haven’t listened to the message the people of Wales sent them in the General Election and they still don't speak to the values and issues of the people of Wales.”

Plaid Cymru Leader Rhun ap Iorwerth MS wished Andrew RT Davies well following his decsion to step down, and said “the legacy of the Tories in Wales is one of chaos and cuts - a legacy that was roundly rejected at the ballot box this year.

"They offer no solutions for the challenges facing our communities and nor do they have a serious plan for government.

"Plaid Cymru stands ready to offer Wales a fresh start. While the Tories fight amongst themselves and Labour continues to let down our communities, Plaid Cymru is united and focused on delivering our vision to rebuild our economy, fix the NHS, demand fair treatment from UK Government and show real ambition for the future of our nation.”