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| Version 4 | Version 5 |
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| Welsh Conservative leader Andrew RT Davies quits | Welsh Conservative leader Andrew RT Davies quits |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Andrew RT Davies has quit as leader of the Conservative group in the Welsh Assembly after seven years in charge. | Andrew RT Davies has quit as leader of the Conservative group in the Welsh Assembly after seven years in charge. |
| He had been criticised within the party for suggesting firms like Airbus were undermining Brexit by warning they could close UK plants. | He had been criticised within the party for suggesting firms like Airbus were undermining Brexit by warning they could close UK plants. |
| Theresa May said the Welsh Tories had been a "strong voice for the people of Wales" under his leadership. | Theresa May said the Welsh Tories had been a "strong voice for the people of Wales" under his leadership. |
| Nick Ramsay, runner-up in the 2011 leadership contest, has backed Paul Davies to take over. | Nick Ramsay, runner-up in the 2011 leadership contest, has backed Paul Davies to take over. |
| A Conservative AM told BBC Wales there could be a "coronation". | |
| A party source said AMs were in conversations on whether there should be more than one candidate for the role, and therefore a contest. | |
| Another alleged Mr Davies's resignation followed an "orchestrated plot from both ends of the M4", warning of "very dark times for Brexiteers". | |
| On Friday, Andrew RT Davies had accused Airbus - which employs more than 6,000 people in Flintshire - of "hyperbole" in making "threats" to leave the UK because of fears that Brexit would hit trade. | |
| Guto Bebb, a Welsh Conservative MP and UK defence minister, condemned Mr Davies for making "inflammatory" remarks. | Guto Bebb, a Welsh Conservative MP and UK defence minister, condemned Mr Davies for making "inflammatory" remarks. |
| He also disputed Mr Davies's title as leader of the Welsh Conservatives - rather than its assembly group - and said he did not speak in such a capacity. | He also disputed Mr Davies's title as leader of the Welsh Conservatives - rather than its assembly group - and said he did not speak in such a capacity. |
| Andrew RT Davies factfile | Andrew RT Davies factfile |
| In a statement, Mr Davies said he was resigning as leader of the assembly group with "deep regret" following a group meeting on Wednesday. | In a statement, Mr Davies said he was resigning as leader of the assembly group with "deep regret" following a group meeting on Wednesday. |
| The South Wales Central AM said it had been a "huge privilege to serve in this position since 2011, after securing the mandate of the party in a ballot of the membership". | The South Wales Central AM said it had been a "huge privilege to serve in this position since 2011, after securing the mandate of the party in a ballot of the membership". |
| "I look forward to supporting whoever emerges from the contest to replace me, and I will continue to place all of my efforts into advancing the Welsh Conservative cause both here in Wales and Westminster," he added. | "I look forward to supporting whoever emerges from the contest to replace me, and I will continue to place all of my efforts into advancing the Welsh Conservative cause both here in Wales and Westminster," he added. |
| "As a party we would achieve nothing without the hard work and dedication of our grassroots and I would like to thank them all for the support they have given me in Wales. | "As a party we would achieve nothing without the hard work and dedication of our grassroots and I would like to thank them all for the support they have given me in Wales. |
| "Nothing could make me prouder than to have enjoyed their backing throughout this journey." | "Nothing could make me prouder than to have enjoyed their backing throughout this journey." |
| Paying tribute to Mr Davies, Prime Minister Theresa May said: "Under Andrew's leadership, the Welsh Conservatives have provided a strong opposition to Labour in Cardiff Bay and a strong voice for the people of Wales, both at home and in Westminster. | Paying tribute to Mr Davies, Prime Minister Theresa May said: "Under Andrew's leadership, the Welsh Conservatives have provided a strong opposition to Labour in Cardiff Bay and a strong voice for the people of Wales, both at home and in Westminster. |
| "I know he will continue to be a passionate champion for the people of South Wales Central in the assembly, as he has been for more than a decade - and will continue to speak up for the best interests of Wales as we leave the European Union and forge a new role for the whole United Kingdom on the world stage." | "I know he will continue to be a passionate champion for the people of South Wales Central in the assembly, as he has been for more than a decade - and will continue to speak up for the best interests of Wales as we leave the European Union and forge a new role for the whole United Kingdom on the world stage." |
| 'Larger than life' | 'Larger than life' |
| First Minister Carwyn Jones said: "Despite our obvious political differences, I always found Andrew to be good company, and he never broke the confidences I shared with him as leader of the opposition. | First Minister Carwyn Jones said: "Despite our obvious political differences, I always found Andrew to be good company, and he never broke the confidences I shared with him as leader of the opposition. |
| "That is the sign of a decent and honest politician. | "That is the sign of a decent and honest politician. |
| "Andrew has made his mark in Welsh politics, and his jovial and larger-than-life personality has always been a breath of fresh air during assembly proceedings. I wish him well in the future." | "Andrew has made his mark in Welsh politics, and his jovial and larger-than-life personality has always been a breath of fresh air during assembly proceedings. I wish him well in the future." |
| During his seven years leading the Conservatives in the assembly, Mr Davies appeared to be at odds with the wider party on a number of occasions. | During his seven years leading the Conservatives in the assembly, Mr Davies appeared to be at odds with the wider party on a number of occasions. |
| In the 2016 referendum on Europe he backed Brexit while the then Prime Minister David Cameron campaigned to remain in the EU. | In the 2016 referendum on Europe he backed Brexit while the then Prime Minister David Cameron campaigned to remain in the EU. |
| Some Tories were critical of Mr Davies for welcoming into the Tory assembly group ex-UKIP AM Mark Reckless - a former Conservative MP who had dramatically defected to UKIP on the eve of the Tories' 2014 party conference. | Some Tories were critical of Mr Davies for welcoming into the Tory assembly group ex-UKIP AM Mark Reckless - a former Conservative MP who had dramatically defected to UKIP on the eve of the Tories' 2014 party conference. |
| Mr Davies also denied reports of a spat with Welsh Secretary Alun Cairns over who should represent the Welsh Conservatives in TV debates in the 2017 general election campaign. | Mr Davies also denied reports of a spat with Welsh Secretary Alun Cairns over who should represent the Welsh Conservatives in TV debates in the 2017 general election campaign. |
| After the party then lost three Welsh seats in the June poll, he called for more clarity on who should be designated leader of the Welsh Conservatives. | After the party then lost three Welsh seats in the June poll, he called for more clarity on who should be designated leader of the Welsh Conservatives. |
| Reacting to news of the resignation, Mr Cairns said: "Andrew RT Davies has played a vital role in holding the Welsh Labour government to account in the Welsh Assembly since 2011. | Reacting to news of the resignation, Mr Cairns said: "Andrew RT Davies has played a vital role in holding the Welsh Labour government to account in the Welsh Assembly since 2011. |
| "As leader in the assembly he has a robust record of highlighting how a Welsh Conservative government could deliver a stronger Welsh economy." | "As leader in the assembly he has a robust record of highlighting how a Welsh Conservative government could deliver a stronger Welsh economy." |
| Monmouth AM Nick Ramsay, who Mr Davies defeated in the 2011 leadership ballot of Welsh Conservative members, told BBC Wales he would not seek election this time around. | Monmouth AM Nick Ramsay, who Mr Davies defeated in the 2011 leadership ballot of Welsh Conservative members, told BBC Wales he would not seek election this time around. |
| He said: "I've received a number of calls from party members this morning asking if I will be standing in the leadership election. | He said: "I've received a number of calls from party members this morning asking if I will be standing in the leadership election. |
| "I'm not - I'm calling on Paul Davies to stand." | "I'm not - I'm calling on Paul Davies to stand." |
| The Preseli Pembrokeshire AM served as interim Conservative group leader in 2011 after Nick Bourne lost his assembly seat and until Andrew RT Davies was elected to succeed him. | |
| Byron Davies, Welsh Conservative chairman, said: "It has been my pleasure to work with Andrew over the years and I would like to thank him for all that he has done as leader of the Welsh Conservative group in the assembly." | Byron Davies, Welsh Conservative chairman, said: "It has been my pleasure to work with Andrew over the years and I would like to thank him for all that he has done as leader of the Welsh Conservative group in the assembly." |
| UKIP AM Neil Hamilton said he was sorry Mr Davies had resigned. "Andrew is a combative Brexiteer in a Tory group which is dominated by Remainers," he added. | |
| Analysis by Aled ap Dafydd, BBC Wales political correspondent | Analysis by Aled ap Dafydd, BBC Wales political correspondent |
| Jovial and self-deprecating Andrew RT Davies is a "take me as I am" kind of man. | Jovial and self-deprecating Andrew RT Davies is a "take me as I am" kind of man. |
| Not many politicians refer to themselves as "19 stone of prime Welsh beef" and I can't think of another would-be first minister who would allow me to film them eating a plate of chips for breakfast on the campaign trail. | Not many politicians refer to themselves as "19 stone of prime Welsh beef" and I can't think of another would-be first minister who would allow me to film them eating a plate of chips for breakfast on the campaign trail. |
| In the latter stages of his seven years in charge there have been obvious tensions. As a staunch supporter of Brexit he came out on the winning side, a personal high point. But it made for a strained relationship with Downing Street. | In the latter stages of his seven years in charge there have been obvious tensions. As a staunch supporter of Brexit he came out on the winning side, a personal high point. But it made for a strained relationship with Downing Street. |
| Critical comments about Airbus's threat to leave the UK angered some of his Conservative colleagues. | Critical comments about Airbus's threat to leave the UK angered some of his Conservative colleagues. |
| If he thought something, invariably he said it or acted upon it. | If he thought something, invariably he said it or acted upon it. |
| A case in point was his sustained backing for the Swansea Bay tidal lagoon in the face of growing evidence over time that the UK government wouldn't be backing the scheme. | A case in point was his sustained backing for the Swansea Bay tidal lagoon in the face of growing evidence over time that the UK government wouldn't be backing the scheme. |
| Earlier this year, Andrew RT Davies told me he'd be willing to step aside if it meant the Tories could form the next Government. | Earlier this year, Andrew RT Davies told me he'd be willing to step aside if it meant the Tories could form the next Government. |
| And so a pro-Brexit leader has made way and Remainer Paul Davies is his likely successor. That makes working with another party easier - even if forming the next Welsh Government is still a way off. | And so a pro-Brexit leader has made way and Remainer Paul Davies is his likely successor. That makes working with another party easier - even if forming the next Welsh Government is still a way off. |