2018 Welsh Conservatives leadership election

The 2018 Welsh Conservatives leadership election was triggered on 27 June by the resignation of Andrew RT Davies.[1]

2018 Welsh Conservatives leadership election
29 June 2018 (2018-06-29) – 6 September 2018 (2018-09-06)
Turnout52%
 
Candidate Paul Davies Suzy Davies
First round ??? ???
Percentage 68.1% 31.9%
Leader before election

Andrew RT Davies

 Elected Leader

Paul Davies

Davies had led the Welsh Conservatives since 14 July 2011.[2]

Paul Davies won the contest and became the new leader.

Procedure

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 JuneNominations open
16 JulyNominations close
17 JulyNominations announced
30 JulyHustings start
10 AugustHustings end
15 AugustVoting opens
5 SeptemberVoting closes
6 SeptemberCount and declaration

Campaign

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]

Candidates
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

Darren Millar[14] Nick Ramsay[1]
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

See also

References
  1. "Welsh Conservative leader Andrew RT Davies quits". BBC News. 27 June 2018. Archived from the original on 7 February 2020. Retrieved 2 July 2018.
  2. "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.
  3. "Suzy Davies to stand for Tory AMs leader". BBC News. 3 July 2018.
  4. Shipton, Martin (28 June 2018). "The story behind Andrew RT Davies' ousting as Welsh Conservative leader". Wales Online.
  5. "Welsh Conservatives set out timetable to find new leader in Assembly | Wales - ITV News". Itv.com. 29 June 2018. Retrieved 2 July 2018.
  6. "Moves afoot to try and remove me". BBC News.
  7. Morris, Steven (27 June 2018). "Welsh Tory leader Andrew RT Davies quits after Airbus row". The Guardian.
  8. "County AM takes Conservative Interim Leader role in Assembly". Western Telegraph.
  9. "Davies quits as Welsh Conservative leader". BBC News. 27 June 2018.
  10. 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.
  11. "Tory AM visits Gwent to launch leadership campaign". South Wales Argus. 3 August 2018. Retrieved 5 August 2018.
  12. "THE POLITICS FILE: What does autumn have in store for Welsh politics?". South Wales Argus. Retrieved 29 August 2018.
  13. "The contenders to succeed Andrew RT Davies as leader of the Welsh Conservatives Assembly group". Wales Online. 27 June 2018. Retrieved 2 July 2018.
  14. "Welsh Conservative leadership: 'No coronation of a Remainer'". BBC News. 29 June 2018. Retrieved 2 July 2018.
  16. "Who will be the next Welsh Conservative assembly leader?". BBC News. 27 June 2018. Retrieved 2 July 2018.
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