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Welsh Conservative leader Andrew RT Davies quits Welsh Tory leader Andrew RT Davies quits after Airbus row
(about 4 hours 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 has unexpectedly resigned amid criticism from within his party over his vocal pro-Brexit stance.
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. Political supporters and opponents suggested that Andrew RT Davies, who had been in the job for seven years, was squeezed out because of his uncompromising support for Brexit.
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’s deputy, Paul Davies – who is not related – has been appointed as interim leader and is in pole position to take the role permanently.
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. Andrew RT Davies, a farmer from south Wales, campaigned strongly two years ago for the UK to leave the EU, causing embarrassment to the then prime minister, David Cameron.
Last week he was highly critical of the warning by Airbus, a key employer in Wales, that it could cease manufacturing in the UK because of Brexit, dismissing the claim as “hyperbole”.
Guto Bebb, a senior Welsh Conservative MP and UK defence minister, condemned Davies for what he called “inflammatory” remarks over Airbus. Bebb also disputed Davies’s title as leader of the Welsh Conservatives, rather than its assembly group.
Davies risked further angering the national Conservative leadership when he expressed disappointment over the Westminster government’s decision not to back the Swansea tidal lagoon project this week.
In his resignation letter, Davies did not spell out why he was leaving but made it clear he was not happy.
The former Tory MP Mark Reckless, who sits with the Conservative group in the Welsh assembly, was among the first to claim Davies had been pushed out by remainers, tweting: “Awful that [Davies] has been pushed out 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 manAwful 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. Owen Smith, the Labour MP for Pontypridd and a spokesperson for the anti-Brexit group Best for Britain, argued Davies was the “first casualty in the Tory Brexit war”.
“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. He said: “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.”
“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.
“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.
“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.
“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.”
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: “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.”
“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.” The prime minister, Theresa May, said: “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.
“I know he will continue to be a passionate champion for the people of South Wales Central 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.”
Welsh politicsWelsh politics
ConservativesConservatives
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