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Emergency talks over shadow cabinet sackings | Emergency talks over shadow cabinet sackings |
(35 minutes later) | |
Emergency talks have been held by the Welsh Conservative board on the controversial sacking of four shadow cabinet members, BBC Wales understands. | Emergency talks have been held by the Welsh Conservative board on the controversial sacking of four shadow cabinet members, BBC Wales understands. |
They were sacked this week by Welsh Conservative leader Andrew RT Davies. | They were sacked this week by Welsh Conservative leader Andrew RT Davies. |
It is understood the conference call on Friday was arranged to allow members to express "concern and anger" at Mr Davies's actions. | It is understood the conference call on Friday was arranged to allow members to express "concern and anger" at Mr Davies's actions. |
A senior figure said there was no support on the board for Mr Davies, who has led the party in Wales since 2011. | A senior figure said there was no support on the board for Mr Davies, who has led the party in Wales since 2011. |
The source said some board members were even threatening to attempt to deselect their leader as a candidate in the 2016 assembly election. | The source said some board members were even threatening to attempt to deselect their leader as a candidate in the 2016 assembly election. |
Another source told BBC Wales that there was "100% universal criticism" of Mr Davies's decision, and that although he continued to argue that the sackings were the right course of action, he had "zero support" and was "completely isolated". | Another source told BBC Wales that there was "100% universal criticism" of Mr Davies's decision, and that although he continued to argue that the sackings were the right course of action, he had "zero support" and was "completely isolated". |
BBC Wales has been told by numerous sources that at least one AM who retained his frontbench position was "considering his position" and may resign from the shadow cabinet. | BBC Wales has been told by numerous sources that at least one AM who retained his frontbench position was "considering his position" and may resign from the shadow cabinet. |
However, Byron Davies, the AM for South Wales West, said he would not be making any statements on Friday. | However, Byron Davies, the AM for South Wales West, said he would not be making any statements on Friday. |
Should a member of the new shadow cabinet resign from the front bench, it would throw the leadership of Mr Davies into crisis. | Should a member of the new shadow cabinet resign from the front bench, it would throw the leadership of Mr Davies into crisis. |
The party would then have to consider the leadership question before May's European parliamentary election, as well as the next general election in 2015 and the assembly election in 2016. | The party would then have to consider the leadership question before May's European parliamentary election, as well as the next general election in 2015 and the assembly election in 2016. |
The board of management is made up of a selection of senior Conservatives and is in charge of the day-to-day running of the party in Wales. | The board of management is made up of a selection of senior Conservatives and is in charge of the day-to-day running of the party in Wales. |
'Modern voice' | |
A spokesman for the Welsh Conservative Party said: "We do not comment on internal party matters." | A spokesman for the Welsh Conservative Party said: "We do not comment on internal party matters." |
A spokesman for the Conservative group in the assembly said: "We do not recognise these bizarre comments, which are entirely anonymous and source-led. | |
"This is a weak story, based around unnamed sources. | |
"The Welsh Conservatives are united in providing a strong and modern voice for Wales and a real alternative to a lazy Labour government that has run out of ideas." | |
Nick Ramsay, Antoinette Sandbach, Mohammad Asghar and Janet Finch-Saunders were dismissed from the shadow cabinet on Wednesday for rebelling against Mr Davies in a vote on devolving income tax. | Nick Ramsay, Antoinette Sandbach, Mohammad Asghar and Janet Finch-Saunders were dismissed from the shadow cabinet on Wednesday for rebelling against Mr Davies in a vote on devolving income tax. |
Mr Davies is critical of the model of income tax powers in the process of being devolved from Westminster. | Mr Davies is critical of the model of income tax powers in the process of being devolved from Westminster. |
The four failed to vote in a Senedd motion criticising the model. | The four failed to vote in a Senedd motion criticising the model. |
Asked on Thursday if there was a risk his group of AMs would be divided as a result of the sackings, Mr Davies said: "I very much hope not." | Asked on Thursday if there was a risk his group of AMs would be divided as a result of the sackings, Mr Davies said: "I very much hope not." |
Mr Davies has been involved in a public disagreement with Welsh Secretary David Jones over the model of income tax powers in the process of being devolved from Westminster to Cardiff Bay. | Mr Davies has been involved in a public disagreement with Welsh Secretary David Jones over the model of income tax powers in the process of being devolved from Westminster to Cardiff Bay. |
The deal on offer to the Welsh government is called the lockstep, because any changes up or down would have to be mirrored across all the different bands. | The deal on offer to the Welsh government is called the lockstep, because any changes up or down would have to be mirrored across all the different bands. |
The result is that a Welsh government would not be able to target a higher rate or basic rate payer. | The result is that a Welsh government would not be able to target a higher rate or basic rate payer. |
Mr Davies, like First Minister Carwyn Jones, has been strongly critical of the model, while David Jones has supported it. | Mr Davies, like First Minister Carwyn Jones, has been strongly critical of the model, while David Jones has supported it. |