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| Shock changes in Tory reshuffle | Shock changes in Tory reshuffle |
| (20 minutes later) | |
| Two leading Welsh Conservative assembly members have left the shadow cabinet in a surprise reshuffle. | Two leading Welsh Conservative assembly members have left the shadow cabinet in a surprise reshuffle. |
| Jonathan Morgan has been replaced as the party's health spokesperson by the former education spokesperson Andrew Davies, the AM for South Wales Central. | Jonathan Morgan has been replaced as the party's health spokesperson by the former education spokesperson Andrew Davies, the AM for South Wales Central. |
| Mr Morgan, the Cardiff North AM, had been in the health role since 2003. | Mr Morgan, the Cardiff North AM, had been in the health role since 2003. |
| South Wales East AM William Graham has also been replaced as chief whip by Alun Cairns. Paul Davies picks up the vacant education brief. | |
| Mr Graham will now take a backbench role, the party said. | Mr Graham will now take a backbench role, the party said. |
| The move raises questions about tensions in the Conservative group between Mr Morgan and the party leader Nick Bourne, according to BBC Wales' political editor Betsan Powys. | The move raises questions about tensions in the Conservative group between Mr Morgan and the party leader Nick Bourne, according to BBC Wales' political editor Betsan Powys. |
| Mr Bourne has repeatedly faced questions over his leadership in recent months, with Mr Morgan rumoured to be keen to replace him. | Mr Bourne has repeatedly faced questions over his leadership in recent months, with Mr Morgan rumoured to be keen to replace him. |
| This is a strong team and a team which I believe will build on the work of recent years and one which will help us meet the many challenges ahead. Nick Bourne | This is a strong team and a team which I believe will build on the work of recent years and one which will help us meet the many challenges ahead. Nick Bourne |
| BBC Wales political reporter Brian Meechan said Mr Morgan was once seen as close to the Conservative assembly leader Nick Bourne and the pair shared the same view about making devolution work. | BBC Wales political reporter Brian Meechan said Mr Morgan was once seen as close to the Conservative assembly leader Nick Bourne and the pair shared the same view about making devolution work. |
| However, when Mr Bourne faced questions over his expense claims for an iPod and a trouser press in December, Mr Morgan was seen to be amongst his chief critics. | However, when Mr Bourne faced questions over his expense claims for an iPod and a trouser press in December, Mr Morgan was seen to be amongst his chief critics. |
| In a statement, the party said Mr Morgan will be nominated as chair of the assembly's influential audit committee. | In a statement, the party said Mr Morgan will be nominated as chair of the assembly's influential audit committee. |
| In addition to being chief whip, Mr Cairns, AM for South Wales West, will act as heritage and business manager, while working alongside David Melding AM as a spokesman on the economy. | In addition to being chief whip, Mr Cairns, AM for South Wales West, will act as heritage and business manager, while working alongside David Melding AM as a spokesman on the economy. |
| Clwyd West AM Darren Millar will be nominated as chair of the health, well-being and local government committee. | Clwyd West AM Darren Millar will be nominated as chair of the health, well-being and local government committee. |
| Mr Bourne said the changes would bring a "fresh perspective" to the "vitally important role of scrutinising the Labour-Plaid Assembly Government and its policies". | Mr Bourne said the changes would bring a "fresh perspective" to the "vitally important role of scrutinising the Labour-Plaid Assembly Government and its policies". |
| "In particular, by appointing Alun Cairns to work alongside David Melding on the economy it underlines just how seriously Welsh Conservatives take the challenge of helping Wales emerge in a strong position from the recession," he said. | "In particular, by appointing Alun Cairns to work alongside David Melding on the economy it underlines just how seriously Welsh Conservatives take the challenge of helping Wales emerge in a strong position from the recession," he said. |
| "Welsh Conservatives take our role as the assembly's official opposition very seriously. | "Welsh Conservatives take our role as the assembly's official opposition very seriously. |
| "This is a strong team and a team which I believe will build on the work of recent years and one which will help us meet the many challenges ahead." | "This is a strong team and a team which I believe will build on the work of recent years and one which will help us meet the many challenges ahead." |