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You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2018/jun/27/welsh-conservative-leader-andrew-rt-davies-quits
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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| Welsh Conservative leader Andrew RT Davies quits | Welsh Conservative leader Andrew RT Davies quits |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| The leader of the Welsh Conservatives, Andrew RT Davies, has announced that he is resigning after seven years in the job. | The leader of the Welsh Conservatives, Andrew RT Davies, has announced that he is resigning after seven years in the job. |
| Davies has not explained why he took the decision, but it comes days after he criticised Airbus for warning that it could move manufacturing abroad, and expressed disappointment over the Westminster government’s decision not to back the Swansea tidal lagoon project. | Davies has not explained why he took the decision, but it comes days after he criticised Airbus for warning that it could move manufacturing abroad, and expressed disappointment over the Westminster government’s decision not to back the Swansea tidal lagoon project. |
| Davies, who has a farm in the Vale of Glamorgan, south Wales, is a keen Brexiter whose pro-leave stance caused tension with the Tory national leadership during the EU referendum campaign. | Davies, who has a farm in the Vale of Glamorgan, south Wales, is a keen Brexiter whose pro-leave stance caused tension with the Tory national leadership during the EU referendum campaign. |
| The former Tory MP Mark Reckless, who sits with the Conservative group in the Welsh assembly, claimed Davies had been pushed out by remainers for backing Brexit. | The former Tory MP Mark Reckless, who sits with the Conservative group in the Welsh assembly, claimed Davies had been pushed out by remainers for backing Brexit. |
| Awful that Welsh Conservative leader @AndrewRTDavies has been pushed out by Remainers for backing Brexit. Such a decent man | Awful that Welsh Conservative leader @AndrewRTDavies has been pushed out by Remainers for backing Brexit. Such a decent man |
| The prime minister, Theresa May, said: “I would like to send my thanks and best wishes to Andrew as he steps down after seven years as leader of the Conservatives in the Welsh assembly. | The prime minister, Theresa May, said: “I would like to send my thanks and best wishes to Andrew as he steps down after seven years as leader of the Conservatives in the Welsh assembly. |
| “Under Andrew’s leadership, the Welsh Conservatives have provided a strong opposition to Labour in Cardiff Bay and a strong voice for the people of Wales, both at home and in Westminster. | “Under Andrew’s leadership, the Welsh Conservatives have provided a strong opposition to Labour in Cardiff Bay and a strong voice for the people of Wales, both at home and in Westminster. |
| “I know he will continue to be a passionate champion for the people of South Wales Central in the assembly, as he has been for more than a decade – and will continue to speak up for the best interests of Wales as we leave the European Union and forge a new role for the whole United Kingdom on the world stage.” | “I know he will continue to be a passionate champion for the people of South Wales Central in the assembly, as he has been for more than a decade – and will continue to speak up for the best interests of Wales as we leave the European Union and forge a new role for the whole United Kingdom on the world stage.” |
| Davies said on Wednesday: “It is with deep regret that I announce that I have today tendered my resignation as leader of the Welsh Conservatives in the national assembly. This was done in a letter to our group chairman following a meeting this morning of all group members. | Davies said on Wednesday: “It is with deep regret that I announce that I have today tendered my resignation as leader of the Welsh Conservatives in the national assembly. This was done in a letter to our group chairman following a meeting this morning of all group members. |
| “It has been a huge privilege to serve in this position since 2011, after securing the mandate of the party in a ballot of the membership.” | “It has been a huge privilege to serve in this position since 2011, after securing the mandate of the party in a ballot of the membership.” |
| Owen Smith, the Labour MP for Pontypridd and a spokesperson for the anti-Brexit group Best for Britain, said: “This is just the first casualty in the Tory Brexit war that threatens to drag our whole country down. | Owen Smith, the Labour MP for Pontypridd and a spokesperson for the anti-Brexit group Best for Britain, said: “This is just the first casualty in the Tory Brexit war that threatens to drag our whole country down. |
| “Mr Davies’s reckless dismissal of the legitimate concerns of Airbus, one of Wales’s most important employers, is the immediate cause of his forced resignation, but it speaks to deeper tensions in the Tory government. “Sensible Conservatives who want to see Britain and all our businesses prosper are at their wits’ end and are now clearly starting to fight back.” | “Mr Davies’s reckless dismissal of the legitimate concerns of Airbus, one of Wales’s most important employers, is the immediate cause of his forced resignation, but it speaks to deeper tensions in the Tory government. “Sensible Conservatives who want to see Britain and all our businesses prosper are at their wits’ end and are now clearly starting to fight back.” |
| This week Davies claimed the warning by Airbus, a key employer in Wales, did a “disservice” to its workforce. | |
| He said: “Talking so casually about decamping to China does those workers a disservice … We are getting to the business end of the negotiations, and there is a lot of hyperbole flying around. | He said: “Talking so casually about decamping to China does those workers a disservice … We are getting to the business end of the negotiations, and there is a lot of hyperbole flying around. |
| “But it’s in everyone’s interest to ensure that trade remains as free and frictionless as possible once we have left the European Union – and that applies as much to the German car manufacturer and the French wine producer as it does to the aerospace sector here in the UK.” | “But it’s in everyone’s interest to ensure that trade remains as free and frictionless as possible once we have left the European Union – and that applies as much to the German car manufacturer and the French wine producer as it does to the aerospace sector here in the UK.” |
| Guto Bebb, a Welsh Conservative MP and UK defence minister, had condemned Davies for making “inflammatory” remarks over Airbus. He said: “Shooting the messenger is an unworthy position for a politician to take not least when that politician aspires to lead a government in Wales.” | Guto Bebb, a Welsh Conservative MP and UK defence minister, had condemned Davies for making “inflammatory” remarks over Airbus. He said: “Shooting the messenger is an unworthy position for a politician to take not least when that politician aspires to lead a government in Wales.” |
| He also disputed Davies’s title as leader of the Welsh Conservatives, rather than its assembly group. | He also disputed Davies’s title as leader of the Welsh Conservatives, rather than its assembly group. |
| Both Labour and Ukip in Wales are also searching for new leaders. The Labour leader and first minister, Carwyn Jones, is stepping down and last month Neil Hamilton was ousted as leader of the Ukip group in the assembly. | Both Labour and Ukip in Wales are also searching for new leaders. The Labour leader and first minister, Carwyn Jones, is stepping down and last month Neil Hamilton was ousted as leader of the Ukip group in the assembly. |
| Jones said of Davies: “Despite our obvious political differences, I always found Andrew to be good company, and he never broke the confidences I shared with him as leader of the opposition. | Jones said of Davies: “Despite our obvious political differences, I always found Andrew to be good company, and he never broke the confidences I shared with him as leader of the opposition. |
| “That is the sign of a decent and honest politician. Andrew has made his mark in Welsh politics, and his jovial and larger than life personality has always been a breath of fresh air during assembly proceedings. I wish him well in the future.” | “That is the sign of a decent and honest politician. Andrew has made his mark in Welsh politics, and his jovial and larger than life personality has always been a breath of fresh air during assembly proceedings. I wish him well in the future.” |
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