Leader of the Opposition (Wales) explained

See also: Shadow Cabinet (Wales).

Post:Leader of the Opposition
Style:Member of the Senedd (MS)
Incumbent:Andrew RT Davies
Incumbentsince:7 May 2021
Termlength:While leader of the largest political party in the Senedd that is not in government
Salary:£104,709 for 2024/25 tax year
Inaugural:Dafydd Wigley
Formation:May 1999

In the Senedd, the Leader of the Opposition[1] [2] [3] [4] is the leader of the Official Opposition, the largest political party that is not in the Welsh Government. The Leader of the Opposition leads and appoints members of the Shadow Cabinet and as such is sometimes styled as the Shadow First Minister of Wales (Shadow First Secretary before 2000).

Since 7 May 2021 the Leader of the Opposition in the Senedd is Andrew RT Davies (Conservative). To date the office has been held by six individuals, three from Plaid Cymru and three from the Welsh Conservatives. Only one, Ieuan Wyn Jones, has gone on to serve in the Welsh Government.

Role

Like in the Westminster system of the UK Parliament, the Welsh Senedd has an official opposition which, by convention, serves to scrutinise the government of the day and acts as an alternative government-in-waiting.[5] [6] The Official Opposition is formed from the largest political party in the Senedd which does not serve in the Welsh Government. This is generally the second largest party in the Senedd,[7] [8] [9] [10] [11] however smaller parties may also fulfill the role when there is a coalition between the largest parties.[12] [13] [14] The Leader of the Opposition leads the Official Opposition and appoints its members to the Welsh Shadow Cabinet, whose portfolios mirror those of ministers or cabinet secretaries in the Welsh Government.[15] Members of the Shadow Cabinet lead the Official Opposition in challenging government ministers and holding them to account.

As with some other practices in the Senedd, the roles of Official Opposition and Leader of the Opposition have no legal basis, instead they have developed as conventions in the Senedd. Both concepts were introduced on an informal basis with the establishment of the Senedd as the National Assembly for Wales in 1999, with the inaugural holder being Dafydd Wigley of Plaid Cymru, the Official Opposition in the assembly at the time.[16] Official recognition was granted in October 2000 with the formation of Rhodri Morgan's coalition government between Welsh Labour and the Welsh Liberal Democrats, with Wigley's successor Ieuan Wyn Jones formally being granted the title of Leader of the Opposition as the assembly began to adopt some elements of the style of government as seen in Westminster.[17] The official introduction of the role also signalled a move toward increased predecence for the Official Opposition in plenary sessions of the assembly and on its subject committees, leading to further scrutiny of the government.[18]

The Leader of the Opposition is officially recognised by the Llywydd of the Senedd[19] and on the website of the Senedd as uniquely serving in that position. Sometimes, the Leader of the Opposition is also styled as the Shadow First Minister of Wales, which is a role they can hold as leader of the Shadow Cabinet;[20] [21] this title has been held by Dafydd Wigley[22] and Ieuan Wyn Jones of Plaid Cymru and Nick Bourne[23] of the Welsh Conservatives.

Salary

In 2001, the National Assembly for Wales decided to grant the Leader of the Opposition a dedicated salary, equivalent to that of a minister in the Welsh Government, of around £34,000. By the end of the third legislative term of the National Assembly in 2011, the salary of the Leader of the Opposition was £41,949.[24]

Going into the fourth term of the assembly in 2011, the Independent Remuneration Board of the assembly replaced the dedicated salary of the Leader of the Opposition with a general salary for all opposition party leaders in the assembly, with a miniimum salary of £12,420 which was increased by £1,000 for each seat held by their party. As such, the salary of the Leader of the Opposition, with 14 AMs in their party at the time, was reduced to £26,420 from July 2011 and frozen for a period of four years.[25] In April 2023, Leader of the Opposition Andrew RT Davies's salary as leader of the Conservative opposition group in the Senedd was set at £101,656.[26] In March 2024, Davies's salary was increased to £104,709 for the 2024/25 tax year.[27]

History

Between July 2007 and May 2011, Nick Bourne served as Leader of the Opposition, even though the Conservatives were the third largest group in the Assembly. This was a result of the Welsh Government's make-up consisting of Labour and Plaid Cymru, which were the largest and second largest groups respectively.

Following the 2016 election, Plaid Cymru (led by Leanne Wood) became the largest group not in government, having won 12 seats to the Welsh Conservatives' 11. On 14 October 2016 Dafydd Elis-Thomas left Plaid Cymru to sit as an independent, which resulted in Plaid Cymru and the Welsh Conservatives both holding 11 seats. During this period Leanne Wood was not referred to as Leader of the Opposition but was instead referred to as the leader of Plaid Cymru.[28] The Conservative group grew to 12 following Mark Reckless's defection from UKIP to the Conservative Group on 6 April 2017, and Andrew RT Davies was once again referred to as Leader of the Opposition.[28]

On 29 March 2021 Nick Ramsay left the Welsh Conservative party,[29] meaning that the group had lost its title as the largest party not in government as by this point both the Welsh Conservatives and Plaid Cymru were tied on 10 seats each, with no official office holder of the Leader of the opposition in the final period before the 2021 Senedd election.

Following the 2021 Senedd election the Welsh Conservatives returned 16 seats making them comfortably the second party ahead of Plaid Cymru who won 13 and as a result Andrew RT Davies once again became Leader of the Opposition.[30]

List of leaders of the opposition in the Senedd

No.width=50Portraitwidth=30%Name
(Birth–Death)
Constituency/Title
Term of officewidth=15%Political partywidth=15%First Minister
1Dafydd Wigley
(1943–)
AM for Caernarfon
12 May
1999
16 March
2000
Plaid CymruAlun Michael
Rhodri Morgan
2Ieuan Wyn Jones
(1949–)
AM for Ynys Môn
16 March
2000
11 July
2007
Plaid CymruRhodri Morgan
3Nick Bourne
(1952–)
AM for Mid and West Wales
11 July
2007
6 May
2011
ConservativeRhodri Morgan
Carwyn Jones
Paul Davies

(1969–)
MS for Preseli Pembrokeshire
6 May
2011
14 July
2011
ConservativeCarwyn Jones
4Andrew RT Davies
(1968–)
MS for South Wales Central
14 July
2011
5 May
2016
Conservative
5Leanne Wood
(1971–)
MS for Rhondda
5 May
2016
14 October
2016[31]
Plaid Cymru
Not in use
14 Oct 2016 – 6 April 2017
During this period both Plaid Cymru and the Welsh Conservatives were tied on 11 seats each. This was after Lord Elis-Thomas left Plaid Cymru to sit as an independent. Leanne Wood was not referred to as Leader of the Opposition during this period and was instead referred to as the leader of Plaid Cymru. The Conservative group grew to 12 following Mark Reckless's defection from the UK Independence Party to the Conservatives on 6 April, and Andrew RT Davies was referred to as Leader of the Opposition once more.
(4)Andrew RT Davies
(1968–)
MS for South Wales Central
6 April
2017
27 June
2018
Conservative
6Paul Davies
(1969–)
MS for Preseli Pembrokeshire
27 June
2018 [32]
23 January 2021ConservativeCarwyn Jones
Mark Drakeford
(4)Andrew RT Davies
(1968–)
MS for South Wales Central
24 January2021[33] 29 March2021ConservativeMark DrakefordVaughan Gething
Not in use
29 March – 7 May 2021
During the final period before the 2021 Senedd election both the Welsh Conservatives and Plaid Cymru were tied on 10 seats each. This happened after Nick Ramsay left the Welsh Conservatives and group in the Senedd to stand as an independent in the Senedd election.[34]
(4)Andrew RT Davies
(1968–)
MS for South Wales Central
7 May
2021
Incumbent
Conservative

See also

Notes and references

References

Notes and References

  1. Web site: People of the Senedd: Andrew RT Davies MS . 10 March 2022 . Senedd Cymru/Welsh Parliament.
  2. Web site: Committee of the Whole Senedd . 19 May 2024 . Senedd Cymru/Welsh Parliament.
  3. Web site: Pobl y Senedd: Andrew RT Davies AS . The People of the Senedd: Andrew RT Davies MS . 19 May 2024 . Senedd Cymru/Welsh Parliament . Welsh.
  4. Web site: Pwyllgor o'r Senedd Gyfan . Committee of the Whole Senedd . 19 May 2024 . Senedd Cymru/Welsh Parliament . Welsh.
  5. Book: Deacon, Russell . Government and Politics of Wales . 20 December 2017 . Edinburgh University Press . 978-0-7486-9974-2 . 99–100 . en . 19 May 2024.
  6. Book: Colin . Copus . A Modern Guide to Local and Regional Politics . Richard . Kerley . Alistair . Jones . 4 February 2022 . Edward Elgar Publishing . 978-1-83910-345-2 . 240 . en . 19 May 2024.
  7. News: 6 April 2017 . New Ukip turmoil as Conservative defector Mark Reckless quits and rejoins Tories . 19 May 2024 . The Daily Telegraph . Mr Reckless's decision to rejoin the Conservatives means they overtake Plaid Cymru as the second largest party in the Assembly, making them the official opposition to Labour..
  8. News: 10 August 2016 . Full house for Leanne Wood in Llandeilo . 19 May 2024 . Herald.Wales . Plaid Cymru is the official opposition in the devolved (but not confederal or even federal) Welsh Government, the second largest party after Labour, but is a distance away from being able to put policies into practice..
  9. Book: Rees . Huw . Wales on This Day . Kilcoyne . Sian . 2022-10-20 . University of Wales Press . 978-1-915279-12-5 . en . In the first election to the newly established Welsh Assembly in 1999, Plaid Cymru became the second largest party, forming the official opposition to Labour..
  10. Book: Jones . Helen . Research Briefing: 2016 Assembly Election Results . Holzinger . Owen . June 2016 . National Assembly for Wales Research Service . National Assembly for Wales Research Papers . 2 . 16-030 . Plaid Cymru won 12 seats, up 1 from 2011 having won the only constituency to change hands (Rhondda). Plaid Cymru are now the second largest party in the Senedd and become the official opposition. . 19 May 2024.
  11. Osmond . John . December 2002 . In association with the Institute of Welsh Affairs and Strategy Wales . Dragon Takes a Different Route . Monitoring the National Assembly for Wales . The Constitution Unit, University College London . September to December 2002 . 52 . 19 May 2024 . This phenomenon, first seen in 1999, saw Plaid Cymru establish themselves as the second party of Wales and the Official Opposition in the Assembly..
  12. News: 29 June 2007 . Labour MPs worried by Plaid deal . 19 May 2024 . BBC News . Meanwhile the Conservatives, with 12 seats, are preparing to become the official opposition to the Labour-Plaid administration..
  13. News: 28 June 2007 . Labour and Plaid strike coalition . 19 May 2024 . North Wales Live . As the third biggest party behind Labour and Plaid, the Conservatives will now form the Assembly’s official opposition..
  14. News: 20 June 2007 . Bourne says Tories must offer 'an alternative vision' . 19 May 2024 . WalesOnline . Labour and Plaid look set to form a coalition government which will mean Mr Bourne, as the head of the third-biggest group, will become leader of the opposition..
  15. News: Williams . Rhys . 27 May 2021 . Shadow Cabinet roles for regional Senedd Members . 19 May 2024 . Caerphilly Observer.
  16. News: 31 August 2023 . Former Plaid Cymru MP to celebrate 50 years since election . 19 May 2024 . Nation.Cymru.
  17. Web site: Hicks . Kristian . The Welsh Conservative Party and the National Assembly of Wales: 1997-2010 . 19 May 2024 . Aberystwyth University . 18.
  18. Osmond . John . December 2000 . In association with Strategy Wales . Coalition Politics Comes to Wales . Monitoring the National Assembly for Wales . Institute of Welsh Affairs . September to December 2003 . 28–33 . 19 May 2024.
  19. Web site: Davies . Nye . 25 October 2016 . All those opposed: Plaid and the role of opposition in the National Assembly . 19 May 2024 . Cardiff University.
  20. 2003 . Opposition Spokespeople and Whips: Plaid Cymru (Welsh Shadow Cabinet) . Vacher's Parliamentary Companion . A.S. Kerswill . 1,112 . 473 . 19 May 2024.
  21. 2000 . Assembly Spokespeople . Vacher's Parliamentary Companion . A.S. Kerswill . 1,097 . 236 . 978-0-905702-28-5 . 19 May 2024.
  22. News: 1 September 1999 . People in the Assembly: Dafydd Wigley . 19 May 2024 . BBC News.
  23. News: Harris . Sharon . 27 August 2008 . Tories pay a visit to town . 19 May 2024 . Barry & District News.
  24. Book: Office Holder Remuneration: Report of the Remuneration Board of the National Assembly for Wales . July 2011 . Remuneration Board of the National Assembly for Wales . 978-0-9564014-2-7 . 26–27 . 19 May 2024.
  25. Web site: 14 July 2011 . Office Holders' Remuneration . 19 May 2024 . Senedd Cymru/Welsh Parliament.
  26. News: Gurner . Richard . 10 April 2023 . Senedd Members get capped pay rise of 3% . 19 May 2024 . Caerphilly Observer.
  27. News: Senedd: Welsh Parliament politicians get 3% pay rise . 2 April 2024 . BBC News.
  28. Web site: About the Record of Proceedings. senedd.wales.
  29. News: 2021-03-29. Wales election: Nick Ramsay leaves Welsh Tories to stand as independent. en-GB. BBC News. 2021-03-29.
  30. Web site: Andrew RT Davies, Leader of the Opposition . Senedd Cymru / Welsh Parliament . 10 March 2022.
  31. The day Dafydd Elis-Thomas left Plaid Cymru to sit as an independent AM.
  32. Served as acting leader from 27 June to 6 September 2018.
  33. News: 2021-01-24. Andrew RT Davies returns as Welsh Conservatives leader. en-GB. BBC News. 2021-01-24.
  34. News: 2021-03-29. Election 2021: Nick Ramsay leaves Welsh Tories to stand as independent. en-GB. BBC News. 2021-03-29.