Davies Shadow Cabinet

Shadow Cabinet of Wales
2018–2021
Date formed27 June 2018
Date dissolved23 January 2021
People and organisations
MonarchElizabeth II
Leader of the OppositionPaul Davies
Member party
  •   Welsh Conservatives
Status in legislatureOfficial Opposition
11 / 60 (18%)
History
Legislature term(s)5th National Assembly
PredecessorSecond Shadow Cabinet of Andrew R. T. Davies
SuccessorThird Shadow Cabinet of Andrew R. T. Davies

Paul Davies became the Leader of the Opposition in Wales after being elected as Leader of the Welsh Conservatives on 27 June 2018 and named his Shadow Cabinet in July.

Between May 2016 and December 2018 the senior tier of ministers were referred to as Cabinet Secretaries and the junior tier as Ministers, from the formation of the first Drakeford government they reverted to their previous titles of Cabinet Ministers and Deputy Ministers respectively and the same applied to Conservative shadow ministers.

The Davies Shadow Cabinet was dissolved upon Paul Davies's resignation on 23 January 2021.

Background

Following the resignation of Andrew R. T. Davies in 2018,[1] the Welsh Conservatives leadership election was contested.

Nominations opened on 29 June 2018 and candidates needed a total of four nominations from Conservative AMs, including themselves, to stand. AMs Russell George, David Melding, and Darren Millar all declined to stand.

There were two candidates who reached the ballot: Deputy Leader and the then-Interim Leader Paul Davies, and former Shadow Minister for Tourism, Culture and the Welsh Language, Suzy Davies.

The South Wales Argus described Paul Davies as having the support of "most of the big hitters in the party" including AMs Darren Millar and Nick Ramsay, former Secretary of State for Wales Stephen Crabb, and the then Chair of the Welsh Affairs Select Committee, David Davies.[2] Suzy Davies was endorsed by AMs Janet Finch-Saunders, Mark Isherwood, and David Melding.

Voting opened on 15 August 2018 and in the outcome, the former obtained 68.1% of the votes of members. The count and declaration as held on 6 September 2018.[3]

Between April 2020 and July 2020 the Secretary of State for Wales, Simon Hart, and the Leader of Monmouthshire County Council Peter Fox, attended Cabinet to support the response to the Coronavirus outbreak in Wales.[4]

In September 2020 David Melding, a moderate and pro-devolution Tory quit his role in the shadow cabinet, Shadow Counsel General & Shadow Minister for Culture & Communications. He made his decision of leaving the front bench permanently after "misgivings for some time" over the party's approach to Brexit, citing that it will lead to the union breaking up. He quit his job the same day as the UK Government introduced in Parliament the Internal Market Bill.[5]

Leadership election

2018 Welsh Conservatives leadership election
29 June 2018 - 6 September 2018
Candidate Votes
Paul Davies
68.1 / 100
Suzy Davies
31.9 / 100
Source: BBC[3]

Members

Conservative Shadow Cabinet (as of December 2020)
Portfolio Name Constituency Term
Leader of the Opposition

Leader of the Conservative Party in the Senedd

 Paul Davies MS Preseli Pembrokeshire 2018–2021
Chief Whip and Shadow Minister for External Affairs & International Relations Darren Millar MS Clwyd West 2018–2021
Shadow Minister for Government Resilience & Efficiency Angela Burns MS Carmarthen West and South Pembrokeshire 2018–2021
Shadow Minister for Finance Nick Ramsay MS Monmouth 2018–2021
Shadow Minister for Education, Skills and Welsh Language Suzy Davies MS South Wales West 2018–2021
Shadow Minister for Business, Economy and Infrastructure, and Mid Wales Russell George MS Montgomeryshire 2018–2021
Shadow Minister for Equalities, Children and Young People Laura Anne Jones MS South Wales East 2020–2021
Shadow Minister for Climate Change, Energy & Rural Affairs Janet Finch-Saunders MS Aberconwy 2018–2021
Shadow Minister for Health, Social Services & Sport Andrew R. T. Davies MS South Wales Central 2018–2021
Shadow Minister for Local Government, Housing & Communities, Armed Forces and North Wales Mark Isherwood MS North Wales 2018–2021
Shadow Counsel General & Shadow Minister for Culture & Communications Vacant since 9 September 2020 after David Melding quit his role from the shadow cabinet.

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Davies quits as Welsh Conservative leader". BBC News. 2018-06-27. Retrieved 2020-06-06.
  2. ↑ "THE POLITICS FILE: What does autumn have in store for Welsh politics?". South Wales Argus. Retrieved 2020-06-06.
  3. 1 2 "Paul Davies wins Welsh Tory leader poll". BBC News. 2018-09-06. Retrieved 2020-06-06.
  4. ↑ "Council leader will join Shadow Cabinet for duration of pandemic, party confirms". South Wales Argus. Retrieved 2020-06-06.
  5. ↑ "Welsh Tory quits frontbench over PM's union stance". BBC News. 2020-09-09. Retrieved 2020-09-09.
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