Welsh Conservative urges opposition to end Labour rule

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-politics-44160433

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Opposition politicians should work with Conservatives to form a future non-Labour Welsh Government, the Tory leader in Wales has said.

Andrew RT Davies issued the challenge at the Welsh Conservative conference.

Looking ahead to the 2021 assembly election, he said the opposition's failure to cooperate so far stops them "unlocking progress and prosperity".

Meanwhile Prime Minister Theresa May has arrived at Ffos Las racecourse, near Llanelli, to speak at the event.

Labour's initial attempt to re-nominate Carwyn Jones as first minister of a minority administration after the 2016 assembly poll election failed, when opposition parties united to back Plaid Cymru leader Leanne Wood instead.

But Mr Jones was re-installed a week later, after a Labour-Plaid deal was struck.

On Friday, Mr Davies told the conference: "Beyond our own Conservative benches, there are immensely talented individuals with whom, looking ahead to the next assembly elections, I stand ready to work with to deliver the change in government Wales needs."

He said there were "only two roadblocks that I believe stop us unlocking this progress to prosperity that Wales needs".

"One is removing the Labour Party itself, and the other is those who acknowledge that Labour are the problem - but just can't bring themselves to work with the Tories to do anything about it."

'Out of touch'

Mr Davies added that it was "all well and good talking about what change in Wales you would want, but if you haven't got a route to get there, you're simply shouting from the sidelines".

Meanwhile Mr Davies alleged that there "something very rotten" at the heart of the Welsh Government, saying it was "poisonous" and was too used to power.

"After two decades in power the Labour party in Wales has become arrogant, complacent and out of touch.

"A government that has abolished the right to own your own home, by scrapping the empowering right to buy scheme, and the bizarre decision to scrap the school uniform grant and the independent living grant."

He accused the Welsh Government of using private information "to smear and damage" is opponents.

By the time of the 2021 assembly poll, Labour will have led the Welsh Government for 22 years, either in its own right or with support from Plaid Cymru or Liberal Democrat AMs.

The Conservatives lost three seats in Wales in the 2017 general election and three after the 2016 assembly campaign.

Welsh Tory chairman Byron Davies has admitted the party has been behind the game, as he set out plans to recruit full-time campaign managers.