Wales Andrew RT Davies News

Opposition leader Andrew RT Davies says he's 'always taken UKIP as a threat' and treated it as seriously as any other political competitor. He was speaking after the Welsh Conservatives ended up behind UKIP in last week's Anglesey council election.

UKIP's success in council elections in England last week has sparked intense debate within the Tory party with some amongst the leadership accused of not taking the UKIP challenge seriously.

Andrew RT Davies said he always had done so, adding that 'any party ... if they're on the ballot paper has the potential to take the vote from you. I take every candidate seriously.' Two successive ITV Wales polls have suggested UKIP could make gains from the Welsh Conservatives in Assembly votes.

• Politics
• UKIP
• Andrew RT Davies

Opposition leader Andrew RT Davies has admitted that his party's performance in last week's council elections on Anglesey was 'not good enough.' Conservatives failed to win any seat and picked up just 6% of the vote, behind UKIP which achieved 7%.

Mr Davies said that 'we failed to communicate with the electorate' and that it was 'not good enough' just to have candidates in the field. He said the party would learn from that and added that 'We know where our fault lines lie and they'll be ruthlessly - and I mean ruthlessly - sorted out.'

• Politics
• Conservatives
• Welsh Conservatives

The First Minister has told AMs that the inclusion of 15 Welsh players in the Lions squad is a good omen for a successful tour of Australia this summer.

History shows that the Lions do best when there is a large Welsh contingent.

Carwyn Jones was responding to the Leader of the Opposition, Andrew RT Davies, who said that having so many players selected was a great achievement for a small nation.

• Sport
• Carwyn Jones
• Andrew RT Davies

The First Minister's letter to the Chancellor proves there is political consensus in Cardiff Bay about the transfer of tax powers to Wales, according to the Welsh Liberal Democrat leader. Kirsty Williams says it 'removes any ambiguity about what the Welsh Government wants' following the Silk Report.

That's been echoed by the Opposition Leader Andrew RT Davies who says the First Minister 'missed a trick' by not getting all the party leaders to sign the letter.

But the Conservative leader said that a series of meetings he's had with the Chancellor and the Prime Minister have left him convinced that the transfer is 'complex' but 'deliverable.' There's some speculation that steps towards transferring tax powers could emerge in the Queen's Speech next week.

• Politics
• Carwyn Jones
• Andrew RT Davies

Opposition leader Andrew RT Davies says the minister's statement on Rowecord should explain why the company turned down the Welsh Government's offer of assistance. He said he hopes there'll be detail of the type of offer made.

• Business
• Andrew RT Davies
• Newport

Opposition leader Andrew RT Davies will use his conference speech in Swansea to announce that he's setting up a commission to look at ways of providing what he calls 'proper, affordable childcare.' He's appointed Shadow Education Minister Angela Burns to head the commission. He'll tell delegates:

I want parents across Wales to look at the Welsh Conservatives and see a party that “gets it” and is doing something about it.

I want young people across Wales to look at the Welsh Conservatives as a party leading the way for aspiration.

So today, I’m pleased to announce that my Shadow Minister for Education, Angela Burns has set up a Commission to look at how we can provide proper, affordable childcare.

Following on from some of the great work already undertaken by the UK Government in this field, Angela will work with professionals from representational organisations and business to see how we can help parents across Wales to be as aspirational for themselves as they are for their children.

Engagement in real policy development is the only way we can sell ourselves as the party that ‘gets it.'

• Politics
• Angela Burns
• Childcare

The Assembly's Opposition Leader is expected to tell his party's conference in Swansea that Wales 'feels more removed than it has ever been' because of Labour's dominance of Welsh politics. Andrew RT Davies will accuse Carwyn Jones' party of thinking 'they have a divine right to rule in Wales.'

In a jibe at a lack of major changes around the cabinet table, he'll say that 'some of [Labour's] ministers amongst the longest continuous serving ministers in the Western World. They'd make some of the Eastern Bloc waxworks proud with their longevity!'

The conference takes place at the Liberty Stadium in Swansea.

• Politics
• Andrew RT Davies
• Welsh Conservatives

Opposition leader in the Assembly, Andrew RT Davies, was amongst the mourners in St. Paul's Cathedral.

He spoke to our Political Editor Adrian Masters after the service.

• Politics
• Welsh Conservatives
• Andrew RT Davies

Opposition leader Andrew RT Davies told AMs that, although he accepts there are 'two sides to every argument,' he 'passionately believes' that Margaret Thatcher was a force for good and, he said, 'put the great back into Great Britain.'

• Politics
• Andrew RT Davies
• Welsh Conservatives

The First Minister will attend next week's funeral for Margaret Thatcher. Downing Street has confirmed it's received his acceptance letter. Opposition leader, Andrew RT Davies will also be there as will Secretary of State for Wales, David Jones.

• Politics
• Carwyn Jones
• Andrew RT Davies