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Tory ex-AM set to challenge Opik Tory ex-AM set to challenge Opik
(about 5 hours later)
Former Tory AM Glyn Davies has announced his intention to stand against Montgomeryshire MP Lembit Opik at the next general election.Former Tory AM Glyn Davies has announced his intention to stand against Montgomeryshire MP Lembit Opik at the next general election.
Mr Davies, 63, said he had come under pressure to mount a challenge against the Welsh Liberal Democrat leader.Mr Davies, 63, said he had come under pressure to mount a challenge against the Welsh Liberal Democrat leader.
Last month Mr Davies, who lost his regional seat in May's assembly election, criticised the MP's "celebrity approach to politics".Last month Mr Davies, who lost his regional seat in May's assembly election, criticised the MP's "celebrity approach to politics".
Mr Opik, 42, said it was a matter for Mr Davies and his party.Mr Opik, 42, said it was a matter for Mr Davies and his party.
Mr Davies now has to go through a nomination process before he can be formally adopted as an official candidate by his local party.Mr Davies now has to go through a nomination process before he can be formally adopted as an official candidate by his local party.
He first challenged for the Montgomeryshire seat in 1997, but lost out to Mr Opik, who succeeded fellow Lib Dem Alex Carlile, now Lord Carlile of Berriew.He first challenged for the Montgomeryshire seat in 1997, but lost out to Mr Opik, who succeeded fellow Lib Dem Alex Carlile, now Lord Carlile of Berriew.
Round two: Mr Opik faced Mr Davies in the 1997 general electionRound two: Mr Opik faced Mr Davies in the 1997 general election
On his blog, he said: "I am desperately keen to continue my involvement in changing the way the people of Montgomeryshire and Wales think of my party." Speaking on BBC Wales, Mr Davies said: "There's a very important role to make devolution a success in Westminster and that I must admit would be my priority in the early stages if I were to clear all the hurdles and find myself elected.
He added that his decision had "nothing whatsoever to do with Lembit Opik". "I am very committed to devolution being a success, that involves the Conservative Party being seen as a very Welsh party and indeed the National Assembly being very successful."
On his blog, he added that his decision had "nothing whatsoever to do with Lembit Opik".
"I accept that I have said in the past that I, personally don't much like the 'celebrity' style of politics but I've always got along very well with Lembit - and if I am successful with my application for selection, I wouldn't want there to be any change.""I accept that I have said in the past that I, personally don't much like the 'celebrity' style of politics but I've always got along very well with Lembit - and if I am successful with my application for selection, I wouldn't want there to be any change."
'Lost every time'
Mr Opik, whose partner is Cheeky Girls singer Gabriela Irimia, has represented the constituency for 10 years and increased his majority to 7,173 at the last general election in 2005.Mr Opik, whose partner is Cheeky Girls singer Gabriela Irimia, has represented the constituency for 10 years and increased his majority to 7,173 at the last general election in 2005.
He said that Mr Davies' application was a matter for the Conservative party, but pointed out he had defeated him in the past. He said that Mr Davies' application was a matter for the Conservative Party, but pointed out he had defeated him in the past.
"He stood against me in 1997, and he has stood against Peter Black in the past and he has lost every time," he said. "He stood against me in 1997, and he has stood against Mick Bates in the past and he has lost every time," he said.
"I won't interfere with the Conservative Party's internal selection process just as I wouldn't expect the Conservatives to interfere with the Liberal Democrats' selection process.""I won't interfere with the Conservative Party's internal selection process just as I wouldn't expect the Conservatives to interfere with the Liberal Democrats' selection process."
Mr Davies farms in the village of Berriew, near Welshpool, and had been a Mid and West Wales AM since the assembly began in 1999 until losing his seat at May's election.Mr Davies farms in the village of Berriew, near Welshpool, and had been a Mid and West Wales AM since the assembly began in 1999 until losing his seat at May's election.
Mr Davies, a keen sportsman, had surgery for rectal cancer in 2002 and has since made a full recovery.Mr Davies, a keen sportsman, had surgery for rectal cancer in 2002 and has since made a full recovery.