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First Shadow Cabinet of Andrew RT Davies

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First RT Davies Shadow Cabinet

Shadow Cabinet of Wales
2011-2016
RT Davies' Assembly photo, 2016
People and organisations
MonarchElizabeth II
Leader of the Opposition and Shadow First MinisterAndrew RT Davies
Member party
  •   Welsh Conservative
Status in legislatureOfficial Opposition
14 / 60 (23%)
(2011)
History
Election2011 assembly election
Legislature term4th National Assembly for Wales
PredecessorShadow Cabinet of Nick Bourne
Interim Shadow Cabinet of Paul Davies (May-Jul 2011)
SuccessorShadow Cabinet of Leanne Wood

Andrew RT Davies became Leader of the Opposition in July 2011, after he was elected leader of the Welsh Conservatives,[1] which formed the second largest party bloc in the National Assembly for Wales (later Senedd) after the 2011 National Assembly for Wales election.[2]

The Welsh Conservatives had previously formed the opposition under Nick Bourne from 2007-2011 while the third largest party, as the second largest party, Plaid Cymru, joined Welsh Labour in government. At the 2011 election, the Conservatives became the second largest overall party, gaining two seats, whilst Plaid Cymru lost 4.[2] Bourne lost his seat at the 2011 Assembly election,[3] prompting the 2011 Welsh Conservatives leadership election. Andrew RT Davies won this election, defeating Nick Ramsay with RT Davies receiving 53.1% of the vote.[1] He took leadership of the party, and the role of Leader of the Opposition in July 2011. Paul Davies had served as interim leader for the two month period between the Assembly election and the choice of a leader.[4]

Davies' Shadow Cabinet lasted until the 2016 National Assembly for Wales election, after which Plaid Cymru briefly became the second largest party, forming a Shadow Cabinet under Leanne Wood.[5] However, after Dafydd Elis-Thomas left Plaid Cymru,[6] and UKIP's Mark Reckless joined the Conservative group in the Assembly the Welsh Conservatives again became the largest Assembly Group,[7] allowing Andrew RT Davies to form his Second Shadow Cabinet in 2017. He would later form two more Shadow Cabinets, the third from January to March 2021[8][9] and the fourth from 2021 to present.[10]

History

[edit]

Initial Shadow Cabinet

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RT Davies appointed his Shadow Cabinet on the 19th of July 2011.[11][12] He appointed Paul Davies as Deputy Leader of the Welsh Conservatives and Shadow Finance Minister and Nick Ramsay as Shadow Business Minister. Janet Finch-Saunders also was appointed Shadow Minister for Local Government, and Mark Isherwood was made Shadow Minister for Social Justice and Housing, alongside a special responsibility for North Wales.[11] Otherwise, his Shadow Cabinet was retained from Paul Davies' Interim Shadow Cabinet,[4] with Darren Millar retaining his role as Shadow Minister for Health, Angela Burns remaining Shadow Minister for Education, Mohammad Asghar remaining Shadow Minister for Equalities and Shadow Minister for Sport, Byron Davies remained Shadow Minister for Transport, as well as being made a Whip, Suzy Davies remained Shadow Minister for Welsh Language & Culture, Russell George remained Shadow Environment Minister and William Graham remained as Business Manager for the Welsh Conservatives, as well as Chief Whip. Antoinette Sandbach was also remained Shadow Minister for Rural Affairs.[11][12][4]

2014 Reshuffle

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In February 2014, Nick Ramsay, Antoinette Sandbach, Mohammad Asghar and Janet Finch-Saunders were all removed from the Shadow Cabinet, after they did not vote on a Senedd motion criticising the model of devolution of income tax powers proposed by the UK Conservative government.[13][14] This model would have required any increase in income tax to be mirrored across all tax bands, preventing targeted increases or reductions.[13] Their Shadow Ministries were reassigned, with Suzy Davies having responsibility for Equalities and Sport added to her Shadow Culture portfolio, William Graham being assigned the role of Shadow Minister for Business, Enterprise and Skills, Russell George taking the role of Shadow Minister for Agriculture and Natural Resources and Mark Isherwood becoming Shadow Minister for Housing, Communities, Local Government and North Wales.[13][14]

This reshuffle was criticised by UK Conservative Party colleague David TC Davies saying "I'm very surprised because Nick [Ramsay] and the others were backing [UK Government] policy, backing the policy of David Jones which is if income tax is devolved after a referendum it needs to be done with certain restrictions in place."[13]

Dissolution

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At the 2016 National Assembly for Wales election, the Welsh Conservatives were reduced to 12 seats, to Plaid Cymru's 13, meaning Plaid leader Leanne Wood formed a new Shadow Cabinet.[5]

Members

[edit]

July 2011 - February 2014

[edit]
Portfolio Shadow Minister Constituency Term
Leader of the Opposition
Leader of the Welsh Conservatives 		Andrew RT Davies AM South Wales Central July 2011 - May 2016
Shadow Minister for Finance
Deputy Leader of the Welsh Conservatives 		Paul Davies (Conservative politician) AM Preseli Pembrokeshire July 2011 - May 2016
Shadow Minister for Health Darren Millar AM Clwyd West July 2011 - May 2016
Shadow Minister for Education Angela Burns AM Carmarthen West and South Pembrokeshire July 2011 - May 2016
Shadow Minister for Business, Enterprise and Technology Nick Ramsay AM Monmouth July 2011 - February 2014
Chief Whip
Business Manager 		William Graham AM South Wales East July 2011 - February 2014
Shadow Minister for Transport
Party Whip 		Byron Davies AM South Wales West July 2011 - May 2016
Shadow Minister for Welsh Language and Culture Suzy Davies AM South Wales West July 2011 - February 2014
Shadow Minister for Environment Russell George AM Montgomeryshire July 2011 - February 2014
Shadow Minister for Social Justice and Housing
Special responsibility for North Wales 		Mark Isherwood AM North Wales July 2011 - February 2014
Shadow Minister for Rural Affairs Antoinette Sandbach AM North Wales July 2011 - February 2014
Shadow Minister for Equalities and Sport Mohammad Asghar AM South Wales East July 2011 - February 2014

February 2014-May 2016

[edit]
Portfolio Shadow Minister Constituency Term
Leader of the Opposition
Leader of the Welsh Conservatives 		Andrew RT Davies AM South Wales Central July 2011 - May 2016
Shadow Minister for Finance
Deputy Leader of the Welsh Conservatives 		Paul Davies (Conservative politician) AM Preseli Pembrokeshire July 2011 - May 2016
Shadow Minister for Health Darren Millar AM Clwyd West July 2011 - May 2016
Shadow Minister for Education Angela Burns AM Carmarthen West and South Pembrokeshire July 2011 - May 2016
Shadow Minister for Business, Enterprise and Skills William Graham AM South Wales East February 2014 - May 2016
Shadow Minister for Transport
Party Whip 		Byron Davies AM South Wales West July 2011 - May 2016
Shadow Minister for Culture (including Equalities, Welsh Language, Heritage, and Sport) Suzy Davies AM South Wales West February 2014 - May 2016
Shadow Minister for Agriculture and Natural Resources Russell George AM Montgomeryshire February 2014 - May 2016
Shadow Minister for Housing, Communities and Local Government
Shadow Minister for North Wales 		Mark Isherwood AM North Wales February 2014 - May 2016

References

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  1. ^ a b "Andrew RT Davies elected Tory Welsh assembly leader". BBC News. 2011-07-14. Retrieved 2024-07-12.
  2. ^ a b "2011 Assembly Election Results May 2011" (PDF). National Assembly for Wales. Retrieved 12 May 2022.
  3. ^ "Tory leader Bourne loses his seat". BBC News. 2011-05-06. Retrieved 2024-07-12.
  4. ^ a b c WalesOnline (2011-05-17). "Conservatives announce shadow Welsh cabinet". Wales Online. Retrieved 2024-07-12.
  5. ^ a b "Plaid Cymru's Leanne Wood names 'strong' shadow cabinet". BBC News. 2016-05-25. Retrieved 2024-07-12.
  6. ^ "Plaid Cymru AM Lord Dafydd Elis-Thomas quits party". BBC News. 2016-10-14. Retrieved 2024-07-12.
  7. ^ "UKIP's Mark Reckless to join Conservatives in assembly". BBC News. 2017-04-06. Retrieved 2024-07-12.
  8. ^ "Newly appointed Welsh Conservatives leader Andrew RT Davies announces Shadow Cabinet". ITV News Wales. 24 January 2021. Retrieved 13 July 2024.
  9. ^ "Wales election: Nick Ramsay leaves Welsh Tories to stand as independent". BBC News. 2021-03-29. Retrieved 2024-07-13.
  10. ^ Owen, Cathy (2021-05-27). "Tory MSs who drank in Senedd during alcohol ban get top roles". Wales Online. Retrieved 2024-07-13.
  11. ^ a b c "Welsh Conservative leader Andrew RT Davies unveils shadow cabinet". Wales Online. 2011-07-19. Retrieved 2024-07-12.
  12. ^ a b "Jobs for all in new Tory leader's shadow cabinet". The Western Mail. 20 July 2011. p. 15.
  13. ^ a b c d "Shadow ministers sacked in reshuffle by Welsh Conservatives". BBC News. 2014-02-12. Retrieved 2024-07-12.
  14. ^ a b Henry, Graham (2014-02-12). "Welsh Tories in reshuffle following front-bench tax row". Wales Online. Retrieved 2024-07-12.
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