Andrew Davies MS (Image: Getty)
Andrew Davies MS has stepped down as Leader of the Conservative Group after failing to convincingly win a confidence vote.
Mr Davies thanked his supporters and staff and said his approach had enjoyed “widespread support” among the membership.
The confidence vote was held during a meeting of the Senedd group today where nine Senedd Members, including Mr Daviesz, himself backed him continuing in post while seven said they did not have confidence in him.
It followed a meeting between Mr Davies and a group of Senedd Members who expressed their dissatisfaction with his leadership.
In a letter to Bernard Gentry, the chairman of the Welsh Conservative Party, he said: “I write to inform you of my resignation as Leader of the Welsh Conservative Group in the Senedd, once a successor is elected. I do so with regret.”
Mr Davies, Member of the Senedd for South Wales Central, will stand down once a successor has been elected.
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The letter went on: “Last week, a group of Senedd members approached me, threatening to resign their positions in shadow cabinet if I did not agree to step down as leader.
“I therefore requested a motion of confidence in my leadership to be held at a meeting this morning.
“This vote has now taken place. It was clear from the result that a substantial minority of the Group do not support our approach, despite it being the only viable strategy available.
“While I would have been honoured to continue as leader, my position is consequently untenable.”
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His letter added: “While there was significant resistance to our approach among certain elements of the Senedd Group, it is clear there is widespread support and enthusiasm among our wider party membership.
“Similarly, in those instances in which we were able to offer clarity of message, and were not undermined by some members of our own group, there was strong support among the general public too.”
He said the Welsh Conservative Party must “decide exactly what it stands for” and confirmed he will not stand in the leadership contest to find his successor.
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Nigel Huddleston MP, co-chairman of the Conservative Party, said: “I would like to thank Andrew RT Davies for his dedication and leadership of the Welsh Conservatives.
“Over 10 years he has done a great job in holding the Welsh Labour Government to account - never missing an opportunity to highlight their mishandling of the NHS, roads and the economy.
“The whole Conservative Party is united in renewing the Party for the future and I know that Andrew will help us with that mission as he continues in his role as an Assembly Member.”