Welsh Conservative Leader Andrew RT Davies Resigns After Narrow Confidence Vote Loss
Andrew RT Davies, the leader of the Welsh Conservatives, has resigned from his position after narrowly surviving a vote of confidence within his party. Despite winning the vote with 9 out of 16 votes in his favor, Davies described his position as "untenable" following the results, citing that a significant portion of his colleagues no longer supported his leadership approach. This marked a turning point in his tenure, with party members voicing concerns about his direction for the party.
Davies, who had led the Welsh Conservatives intermittently since 2011, faced increasing pressure in recent months. This was partly due to the party’s poor performance in recent polls, which placed them in fourth place in Wales, behind Plaid Cymru, Labour, and Reform UK. Under his leadership, the Conservatives struggled to provide a clear and compelling alternative to the ruling Welsh Labour government. The leadership crisis culminated when several members of his frontbench threatened to resign unless Davies stepped down.
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In his resignation letter, Davies expressed regret but acknowledged that the confidence vote outcome revealed a deep divide within the party. He had attempted to steer the Welsh Conservatives toward a more right-wing stance, which he believed would resonate with voters, especially in light of increasing challenges from parties like Nigel Farage's Reform UK. However, some of his party members disagreed, arguing that his approach alienated potential supporters and led to confusion about the party’s position.
His leadership came under further scrutiny due to controversial statements and social media posts, including his comments about halal meat in school lunches, which were criticized as racially insensitive. Additionally, his remarks about abolishing the Welsh Senedd and opposing the 20mph speed limit law in Wales raised concerns about his ability to unite the party.
Davies, a farmer from South Wales, acknowledged that his strategy to "unite the centre-right" in Wales was increasingly difficult to implement, given the internal resistance. With the Welsh Senedd elections approaching in 2026, he warned that the Conservative Party risked “electoral oblivion” if it failed to confront controversial issues that voters cared about.
In response to his resignation, Nigel Huddleston, the co-chair of the Conservative Party, praised Davies for his years of leadership, highlighting his efforts to hold the Welsh Labour government accountable. However, critics within the party and beyond argued that the Welsh Conservatives' infighting and internal divisions were preventing them from addressing the real issues facing Wales.
Davies has made it clear that he will not run for re-election as leader, leaving the Welsh Conservative Party to grapple with its leadership crisis as it seeks to rebuild and reestablish itself as a viable opposition in Wales.
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