2018_Welsh_Conservatives_leadership_election
The 2018 Welsh Conservatives leadership election was triggered on 27 June by the resignation of Andrew RT Davies.[1]
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| Turnout | 52% | |||||||||
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Davies had led the Welsh Conservatives since 14 July 2011.[2]
Paul Davies won the contest and became the new leader.
Candidates require a total of four nominations from Conservative AMs, including themselves, to stand.[3][4]
If there are three or more candidates, Conservative AMs vote until there are two candidates, who are then voted on by the party's membership.[5]
Timetable
| 29 June | Nominations open |
| 16 July | Nominations close |
| 17 July | Nominations announced |
| 30 July | Hustings start |
| 10 August | Hustings end |
| 15 August | Voting opens |
| 5 September | Voting closes |
| 6 September | Count and declaration |
Leader Andrew RT Davies stood down in June 2018. WalesOnline reported that this was because he felt he did not have the full support of the Conservative group.[4] He told the BBC that he had been aware of plans to remove him for more than a year.[6] His departure was credited to what The Guardian described as his "uncompromising" support for Brexit.[7]
Deputy Leader Paul Davies was appointed as an Interim Leader, and announced that he would stand for the permanent leadership.[8][9]
In July, Suzy Davies announced she would stand, saying that she thought it was important for the Welsh Conservatives to have a contested election. She said she would be willing to work with Plaid Cymru to get rid of the Labour government in Wales.[3] She supported reducing taxes, as well as giving some business rates proceeds to councils to use them for private sector-led local development strategies. Suzy Davies also argued for giving the private sector a "real stake in the communities in which they develop" and giving workers an "emotional stake" in their employers.[10]
Paul Davies launched his campaign in Gwent, pledging to give Welsh Conservative Party members a vote on any potential coalition in the Welsh Assembly.[11] He said he would consider cutting taxes in Wales, as well as supporting high street businesses and redesign the business rates system.[10]
The South Wales Argus described Paul Davies as having the support of "most of the big hitters in the party".[12]
| Candidate | Political roles | Nominations from AMs | Endorsements | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Paul Davies[1][13] | AM for Preseli Pembrokeshire since 2007
Deputy Leader of the Welsh Conservatives since 2011 |
3 / 12 25.0% Nominations |
Endorsements | ||
| Suzy Davies[3] | AM for South Wales West since 2011
Shadow Minister for Tourism, Culture and the Welsh Language from 2011 to 2016 |
4 / 12 33.3% Nominations |
Endorsements | ||
Declined
- Russell George, AM for Montgomeryshire since 2011[13]
- David Melding, AM for South Wales Central since 1999, Deputy Presiding Officer from 2011 to 2016[15]
- Darren Millar, AM for Clwyd West since 2007, Shadow Minister for Education since 2016[13][16][14]
- "Welsh Conservative leader Andrew RT Davies quits". BBC News. 27 June 2018. Archived from the original on 7 February 2020. Retrieved 2 July 2018.
- "Andrew RT Davies elected Tory Welsh assembly leader". BBC News. 14 July 2011. Archived from the original on 15 July 2011. Retrieved 14 July 2011.
- "Suzy Davies to stand for Tory AMs leader". BBC News. 3 July 2018.
- Shipton, Martin (28 June 2018). "The story behind Andrew RT Davies' ousting as Welsh Conservative leader". Wales Online.
- "Welsh Conservatives set out timetable to find new leader in Assembly | Wales - ITV News". Itv.com. 29 June 2018. Retrieved 2 July 2018.
- "Moves afoot to try and remove me". BBC News.
- Morris, Steven (27 June 2018). "Welsh Tory leader Andrew RT Davies quits after Airbus row". The Guardian.
- "Davies quits as Welsh Conservative leader". BBC News. 27 June 2018.
- Jones-Evans, Dylan (27 August 2018). "The verdict on the contenders for the next leader of the Welsh Conservatives". Wales Online. Retrieved 29 August 2018.
- "Tory AM visits Gwent to launch leadership campaign". South Wales Argus. 3 August 2018. Retrieved 5 August 2018.
- "THE POLITICS FILE: What does autumn have in store for Welsh politics?". South Wales Argus. 29 August 2018. Retrieved 29 August 2018.
- "The contenders to succeed Andrew RT Davies as leader of the Welsh Conservatives Assembly group". Wales Online. 27 June 2018. Retrieved 2 July 2018.
- "Welsh Conservative leadership: 'No coronation of a Remainer'". BBC News. 29 June 2018. Retrieved 2 July 2018.
- Williamson, David; Mosalski, Ruth (27 June 2018). "The contenders to succeed Andrew RT Davies as Welsh Tory leader". WalesOnline.
- "Who will be the next Welsh Conservative assembly leader?". BBC News. 27 June 2018. Retrieved 2 July 2018.