Paul Davies (Conservative politician) explained

Paul Davies
Office:Shadow Minister for Mid Wales
Leader:Andrew RT Davies
Termstart:18 April 2024
Predecessor:James Evans
Office1:Leader of the Opposition
Monarch1:Elizabeth II
Firstminister1:Carwyn Jones
Mark Drakeford
Predecessor1:Andrew RT Davies
Successor1:Andrew RT Davies
Term Start1:27 June 2018
Term End1:23 January 2021
Office2:Leader of the Welsh Conservatives
Leader2:Theresa May
Boris Johnson
Deputy2:Suzy Davies
Term Start2:27 June 2018
Term End2:23 January 2021
Acting: 27 June 2018 – 6 September 2018
Predecessor2:Andrew RT Davies
Successor2:Andrew RT Davies
Term Start3:6 May 2011
Term End3:14 July 2011
Termlabel3:Acting
Leader3:David Cameron
Predecessor3:Nick Bourne
Successor3:Andrew RT Davies
Office4:Deputy Leader of the
Welsh Conservatives
Leader4:Andrew RT Davies
Term Start4:14 July 2011
Term End4:27 June 2018
Predecessor4:Andrew RT Davies
Successor4:Suzy Davies
Office5:Shadow Minister for Rural Affairs
Termstart5:6 April 2017
Termend5:27 June 2018
Leader5:Andrew RT Davies
Predecessor5:Role not in use
Successor5:Andrew RT Davies
Office6:Welsh Conservative Spokesperson on Rural Affairs
Termstart6:13 June 2016
Termend6:6 April 2017
Leader6:Andrew RT Davies
Office7:Shadow Finance Minister
Termstart7:20 July 2011
Termend7:5 May 2016
Predecessor7:Nick Ramsay
Successor7:Adam Price
Leader7:Andrew RT Davies
Office8:Shadow Minister for Education and the Welsh Language
Termstart8:27 February 2009
Termend8:5 May 2011
Leader8:Nick Bourne
Predecessor8:Alun Cairns
Successor8:Angela Burns
Office9:Shadow Minister for Culture, the Welsh Language and Sport
Termstart9:5 June 2007
Termend9:27 February 2009
Leader9:Nick Bourne
Predecessor9:Owen John Thomas
Successor9:Role Re-organised
Office10:Member of the Senedd
for Preseli Pembrokeshire
Majority10:1,400 (4.4%)
Term Start10:3 May 2007
Predecessor10:Tamsin Dunwoody
Birth Place:Wales
Party:Conservative
Residence:Haverfordwest, Wales

Paul Windsor Davies (born 1969) is a British politician who has served as Member of the Senedd (MS) for Preseli Pembrokeshire since 2007. He served as Leader of the Welsh Conservatives and Leader of the Opposition in Wales from June 2018 to January 2021, resigning after possible breaches of Welsh COVID-19 rules.[1] He had previously been Deputy Leader from 2011 to 2018 and Acting Leader in 2011 and 2018.

Background

Davies grew up in Pontsian. He attended Tregroes Primary School and Llandysul Grammar School, obtaining A levels at Newcastle Emlyn Comprehensive School. Davies now lives in Blaenffos, north Pembrokeshire.[2] [3]

Professional career

On leaving school in 1987 aged 18 Davies started working for Lloyds TSB as a bank clerk based in Haverfordwest. He remained with the bank until his election to the National Assembly in 2007, having risen to become a Business Manager.

Political career

In February 2000, Davies was adopted as the Conservative Party candidate in the Ceredigion by-election; he came in third place in the results having improved the Conservatives' vote. He then fought the seat in the 2001 general election. In the Senedd election of 2003, he fought Preseli Pembrokeshire where he increased the share of the vote from 23% to 30%, cutting the Labour Party's majority to 1,326.

Davies has also held office within the Conservative Party including chairman of Ceredigion Conservative Association and Deputy Chairman of Mid and West Wales Conservatives.

He was first elected to the Senedd in 2007 and was re-elected in May 2011,[4] May 2016 [5] and again in May 2021.[6]

From June 2007 to February 2009 he served as Shadow Minister for Culture, the Welsh Language and Sport.[7] From February 2009 until the Senedd elections in May 2011, Davies held the role of Shadow Minister for Education and the Welsh Language.[8] After his re-election as Senedd Member for Preseli Pembrokeshire at the 2011 elections he briefly held the role of Interim Leader of the Welsh Conservatives, as former Conservative leader Nick Bourne had lost his Mid and West Wales list seat.[9] He served in that post for two months, while a leadership contest was held which saw Andrew RT Davies elected leader of the Welsh Conservatives.[10] He was appointed as Deputy Leader of the Welsh Conservative Senedd Group, and Shadow Minister for Finance in RT Davies' first Shadow Cabinet.[11]

Davies retained this role until after the 2016 Assembly elections, which saw the Conservatives cease to be the official opposition. He was handed the role of Rural Affairs spokesperson.[12] By April 2017, however, the Welsh Tories were once again the largest party, and he therefore became Shadow Minister for Rural Affairs.

Leadership

In 2018, Andrew RT Davies stood down as leader of the Welsh Conservatives, after a confrontation with his party group.[13] It was widely reported that his stance on Brexit was a significant factor.[14] [15] Paul Davies again stepped in as interim leader, and announced his intention to run to hold the role.[16] In a vote held from the 15th of August to the 5th of September Paul Davies won against his opponent Suzy Davies, receiving 68.1% of the vote.[17]

Davies was elected Leader of the Welsh Conservatives in September 2018.[18]

He resigned as Leader of the Welsh Conservatives and Leader of the Opposition on 23 January 2021, shortly after he was seen drinking with fellow MSs in the Senedd in December 2020, days after a ban on serving alcohol in pubs was instituted. At the time it was believed this may be a breach of Welsh COVID-19 regulations.[19] In April 2022 Paul Davies was cleared of breaking the Senedd's code of conduct.[20] His predecessor, Andrew RT Davies, replaced him in the role.

Post-leadership Senedd Career

Davies was re-appointed to the Welsh Shadow Cabinet in April 2024, being appointed Shadow Minister for West Wales.[21]

External links

own website

Senedd website

Notes and References

  1. News: 23 January 2021 . Tory Senedd leader Paul Davies quits over alcohol row . 23 January 2021 . BBC News.
  2. Web site: Paul Davies AM. 7 March 2019.
  3. Web site: National Assembly for Wales: Paul Davies AM. 30 December 2017.
  4. Web site: BBC News – Election 2011 – Wales – Preseli Pembrokeshire . BBC News.
  5. Web site: 6 May 2016 . Assembly Election 2016: The full list of Welsh AMs . 9 May 2016 . WalesOnline.
  6. Web site: Senedd Election 2021: Paul Davies . South Wales Argus.
  7. News: 5 June 2007 . Bourne names his front benchers . 15 June 2024 . South Wales Echo . 5.
  8. News: 27 February 2009 . TORY LEADER RESHAPES FRONTBENCH TEAM . Press Association Newswire Wales.
  9. News: 2011-05-06 . Tory leader Bourne loses his seat . 2024-06-20 . BBC News . en-GB.
  10. News: 2011-07-14 . Andrew RT Davies elected Tory Welsh assembly leader . 2024-06-20 . BBC News . en-GB.
  11. News: 20 July 2011 . Jobs for all in new Tory leader's shadow cabinet . 15 June 2024 . Western Mail . 15.
  12. News: 13 June 2016 . Tory Assembly re-shuffle . 18 June 2024 . South Wales Evening Post . 6-7.
  13. Web site: The story behind Andrew RT Davies' ousting as Welsh Conservative leader - Wales Online . 2024-06-20 . www.walesonline.co.uk.
  14. News: Morris . Steven . 2018-06-27 . Welsh Tory leader Andrew RT Davies quits after Airbus row . 2024-06-20 . The Guardian . en-GB . 0261-3077.
  15. News: 'Moves afoot to try and remove me' . 2024-06-20 . BBC News . en-GB.
  16. News: 2018-06-27 . Welsh Conservative leader Andrew RT Davies quits . 2024-06-20 . BBC News . en-GB.
  17. News: 2018-09-05 . Paul Davies wins Welsh Tory assembly group leadership poll . 2024-06-20 . BBC News . en-GB.
  18. News: BBC News. Paul Davies wins Welsh Tory assembly group leadership poll. 6 September 2018. 6 September 2018.
  19. News: BBC News. Tory Senedd leader Paul Davies quits over alcohol row. 23 January 2021. 23 January 2021.
  20. News: BBC News. Senedd booze ban politicians cleared.
  21. Web site: Price . Emily . 2024-04-18 . Welsh Conservatives reshuffle shadow cabinet . 2024-06-20 . Nation.Cymru . en-GB.