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Paul Davies (Conservative politician)

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Paul Davies
MS
Davies in 2021
Welsh Conservative Chief Whip
Incumbent
Assumed office
12 December 2024
LeaderDarren Millar
Preceded byDarren Millar
Shadow Cabinet Secretary for Constitution and External Affairs
Incumbent
Assumed office
12 December 2024
LeaderDarren Millar
Preceded byDarren Millar
Leader of the Opposition
In office
27 June 2018 – 23 January 2021
MonarchElizabeth II
First MinisterCarwyn Jones
Mark Drakeford
Preceded byAndrew RT Davies
Succeeded byAndrew RT Davies
Leader of the Welsh Conservatives
In office
27 June 2018 – 23 January 2021
Acting: 27 June 2018 – 6 September 2018
DeputySuzy Davies
LeaderTheresa May
Boris Johnson
Preceded byAndrew RT Davies
Succeeded byAndrew RT Davies
Acting
6 May 2011 – 14 July 2011
LeaderDavid Cameron
Preceded byNick Bourne
Succeeded byAndrew RT Davies
Deputy Leader of the
Welsh Conservatives
In office
14 July 2011 – 27 June 2018
LeaderAndrew RT Davies
Preceded byAndrew RT Davies
Succeeded bySuzy Davies
Past Shadow Cabinet and Spokesperson Roles
Shadow Minister for Mid Wales
In office
18 April 2024 – 5 December 2024
LeaderAndrew RT Davies
Preceded byJames Evans[a]
Succeeded byRole not in use
Shadow Minister for Rural Affairs
In office
6 April 2017 – 27 June 2018
LeaderAndrew RT Davies
Preceded byRole not in use
Succeeded byAndrew RT Davies[b]
Welsh Conservative Spokesperson on Rural Affairs
In office
13 June 2016 – 6 April 2017
LeaderAndrew RT Davies
Shadow Finance Minister
In office
20 July 2011 – 5 May 2016
LeaderAndrew RT Davies
Preceded byNick Ramsay
Succeeded byAdam Price[c]
Shadow Minister for Education and the Welsh Language
In office
27 February 2009 – 5 May 2011
LeaderNick Bourne
Preceded byAlun Cairns
Succeeded byAngela Burns
Shadow Minister for Culture, the Welsh Language and Sport
In office
5 June 2007 – 27 February 2009
LeaderNick Bourne
Preceded byOwen John Thomas
Succeeded byRole Re-organised
Member of the Senedd
for Preseli Pembrokeshire
Incumbent
Assumed office
3 May 2007
Preceded byTamsin Dunwoody
Majority1,400 (4.4%)
Personal details
Born1969 (age 54–55)
Wales
Political partyConservative
Residence(s)Haverfordwest, Wales
Websitewww.paul-davies.org.uk

Paul Windsor Davies (born 1969) is a British politician who has served as Member of the Senedd (MS) for Preseli Pembrokeshire since 2007, and as Shadow Cabinet Secretary for the Constitution and External Affairs and Welsh Conservative Chief Whip since December 2024.

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

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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

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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.[2]

Political career

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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

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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.[13][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

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Davies was re-appointed to the Welsh Shadow Cabinet in April 2024, being appointed Shadow Minister for West Wales.[21] After the resignation of Andrew RT Davies and election of Darren Millar as leader of the Welsh Conservatives, Davies was appointed as Chief Whip and Shadow Cabinet Secretary for the Constitution and External Affairs.[22]

References

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

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  1. ^ As Shadow Minister for Mental Health, Wellbeing and Mid Wales
  2. ^ As Shadow Cabinet Secretary for Environment, Sustainability and Rural Affairs.
  3. ^ As Shadow Minister for Business, Economy and Finance
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