Andrew RT Davies became the Leader of the Opposition in Wales after the 2021 Senedd election, when the Welsh Conservatives became the second largest party in the Senedd, with 16 seats.
RT Davies had previously formed three other Shadow Cabinets, the first from 2011-2016, the second from 2017 to 2018 and the third from January to March 2021.
On 3 December 2024, Davies resigned as leader of the Welsh Conservatives, and was replaced on 5 December by Darren Millar.
Background
RT Davies had become leader of the Welsh Conservatives again, after having served in the post from 2011-2018, after his replacement as leader Paul Davies resigned in January 2021, after having been seen drinking with other politicians on the Senedd estate on 8 and 9 December 2020, at the time believed to be a possible breach of COVID-19 regulations in Wales. RT Davies had formed his third Shadow Cabinet from the 24th, the date he took leadership, but it concluded shortly after, after Nick Ramsay left the Welsh Conservatives to run as an independent, having been deselected by his local Conservative Party. This tied the Welsh Conservatives and Plaid Cymru on 10 seats each, meaning there was no Shadow Cabinet from March until the 2021 Senedd Election.
The Welsh Conservatives won 16 seats in the 2021 Senedd Election a record for the party. Davies said after the election that he would remain in post until the next election in 2026. He later formed his shadow cabinet on the 27 May 2021 with members that left the frontbench after the 'booze gate', Darren Miller and Paul Davies, re-entering the frontbench.
History On 27 May 2021, RT Davies announced the placements within his new Shadow Cabinet. Paul Davies and Darren Millar, who had both left the Welsh Conservative front bench were re-appointed, with Paul Davies taking the role of Shadow Minister for the Economy, and Millar taking the role of Shadow Minister for the Constitution and North Wales, as well as the role of Chief Whip. Newly elected Peter Fox was appointed as Shadow Minister for Finance, Natasha Asghar was appointed as Shadow Minister for Transport and Technology, Sam Rowlands was appointed as Shadow Minister for Local Government, Laura Anne Jones was appointed as Shadow Minister for Education, Russell George as Shadow Minister for Health, Mark Isherwood as Shadow Minister for Social Justice, Janet Finch-Saunders as Shadow Minister for Climate Change, Altaf Hussain as Shadow Minister for Equalities and as deputy whip, Tom Giffard as Shadow Minister for Culture, Tourism and Sport, James Evans as Shadow Minister for Mental Health, Wellbeing, and mid-Wales, Samuel Kurtz as Shadow Minister for Rural Affairs and the Welsh Language, Joel James as Shadow Minister for Social Partnership and Gareth Davies as Shadow Minister for Social Services.
2024 Reshuffle On 18 April 2024, RT Davies announced a reshuffle to his Shadow Cabinet. Laura Anne Jones was appointed Shadow Minister for Culture, Sport and Tourism, Tom Giffard was appointed as Shadow Minister for Education and the Welsh Language, Sam Kurtz was appointed as Shadow Minister for Economy and Energy, James Evans was appointed as Shadow Minister for Rural Affairs, Gareth Davies was appointed as Shadow Minister for Mental Health and Early Years, Paul Davies was appointed Shadow Minister for West Wales, Russell George was appointed Shadow Minister for Mid Wales and Deputy Whip, Mark Isherwood was appointed as Shadow Counsel General and Shadow Minister for Housing and Planning, Altaf Hussain was made Shadow Minister for Social Care, Peter Fox had responsibility for Local Government added to his role as Shadow Finance Minister and Sam Rowlands was appointed Shadow Minister for Health. Natasha Asghar, Janet Finch-Saunders, Joel James and Darren Millar all remained in their previous posts.
Changes Laura Anne Jones was asked to "stand back" from the Shadow Cabinet by Andrew RT Davies on 14 June 2024, after screenshots were released appearing to show Jones instructing a member of staff to overclaim on her expenses. She had been under investigation by the Senedd's Standards Commissioner and the South Wales police for her expenses claims since May 2024. She was re-instated by Andrew RT Davies shortly after he resigned on 3 December 2024. Russell George stood down from the Shadow Cabinet on 25 June 2024, pending investigation from the Gambling Commission into bets he made on the date of the 2024 United Kingdom general election.
Dissolution On 28 November 2024, it was reported by Nation.Cymru that Davies had been asked to step down by members of the Welsh Conservative group. Later that same day it was reported that he would face a confidence vote in the Welsh Conservative group meeting on Tuesday 3 December. He survived the confidence vote, reportedly with the support of 9 out of 16 members, including his own. The vote was not held as a secret ballot, instead as a show of hands, after a motion by Davies and seconded by Laura Anne Jones. Shortly after the vote, Davies resigned as leader of the Welsh Conservatives, stating he viewed his position as untenable, after a number of members of the Conservative Shadow Cabinet privately threatened to resign if he remained in post. He formally left the role on 5 December 2024, after his replacement Darren Millar was elected unanimously within the Welsh Conservative group.
Members
March 2021 - April 2024 +PortfolioNameConstituencyTermLeader of the Opposition Leader of the Welsh ConservativesAndrew RT Davies MSSouth Wales CentralMarch 2021 – December 2024Shadow Minister for Finance Peter Fox MSMonmouthMarch 2021 – December 2024Shadow Minister for HealthRussell George MSMontgomeryshireMarch 2021 – April 2024Shadow Minister for the EconomyPaul Davies MSPreseli PembrokeshireMarch 2021 – April 2024Shadow Minister for Climate ChangeJanet Finch-Saunders MSAberconwyMarch 2021 – December 2024Shadow Minister for EducationLaura Anne Jones MSSouth Wales EastMarch 2021 – April 2024Shadow Minister for Social JusticeMark Isherwood MSNorth WalesMarch 2021 – April 2024Shadow Minister for the Constitution and North Wales, Chief Whip and Business Manager Darren Millar MSClwyd WestMarch 2021 – December 2024Shadow Minister for Equalities Deputy WhipAltaf Hussain MSSouth Wales WestMarch 2021 – April 2024Shadow Minister for Rural Affairs and the Welsh LanguageSamuel Kurtz MSCarmarthen West and South PembrokeshireMarch 2021 – April 2024Shadow Minister for Local GovernmentSam Rowlands MSNorth WalesMarch 2021 – April 2024Shadow Minister for Mental Health, Wellbeing and mid WalesJames Evans MSBrecon and RadnorshireMarch 2021 – April 2024Shadow Minister for TransportNatasha Asghar MSSouth Wales EastMarch 2021 – December 2024Shadow Minister for Social ServicesGareth Davies MSVale of ClwydMarch 2021 – April 2024Shadow Minister for Culture, Tourism and SportTom Giffard MSSouth Wales WestMarch 2021 – April 2024 Shadow Minister for Social PartnershipJoel James MSSouth Wales CentralMarch 2021 – December 2024 April 2024 - Present +PortfolioNameConstituencyTermLeader of the Opposition Leader of the Welsh ConservativesAndrew RT Davies MSSouth Wales CentralMarch 2021 – December 2024Shadow Minister for Finance and Local Government Peter Fox MSMonmouthMarch 2021 – December 2024Shadow Minister for Mid Wales and Deputy WhipRussell George MSMontgomeryshireApril 2024 - June 2024Shadow Minister for West WalesPaul Davies MSPreseli Pembrokeshire April 2024 - December 2024 Shadow Minister for Climate ChangeJanet Finch-Saunders MSAberconwy May 2021 – December 2024Shadow Minister for Culture, Sport and TourismLaura Anne Jones MSSouth Wales East April 2024 - June 2024 3 December 2024 - 5 December 2024Shadow Counsel General Shadow Minister for Housing and PlanningMark Isherwood MSNorth WalesApril 2024 - December 2024 Shadow Minister for the Constitution and North Wales Chief Whip Business Manager Darren Millar MSClwyd WestMay 2021 - December 2024 Shadow Minister for Social CareAltaf Hussain MSSouth Wales WestApril 2024 - December 2024 Shadow Minister for Economy and EnergySamuel Kurtz MSCarmarthen West and South PembrokeshireApril 2024 - December 2024 Shadow Minister for HealthSam Rowlands MSNorth WalesApril 2024 - December 2024 Shadow Minister for Rural AffairsJames Evans MSBrecon and RadnorshireApril 2024 - December 2024 Shadow Minister for TransportNatasha Asghar MSSouth Wales EastMay 2021 - December 2024 Shadow Minister for Mental Health and Early YearsGareth Davies MSVale of ClwydApril 2024 - December 2024 Shadow Minister for Education and Welsh LanguageTom Giffard MSSouth Wales WestApril 2024 - December 2024 Shadow Minister for Social PartnershipJoel James MSSouth Wales CentralMay 2021 - December 2024
Changes
Laura Anne Jones was asked to "stand back" from the Shadow Cabinet by Andrew RT Davies on 14 June 2024, after screenshots were released appearing to show Jones instructing a member of staff to overclaim on her expenses. She was intermittently under investigation by the South Wales police for her expenses claims since May 2024. She was re-admitted the day after being cleared by the South Wales Police, though she continues to be under investigation by the Senedd Standards Commissioner. Russell George stood down from the Shadow Cabinet on 25 June 2024, pending investigation from the Gambling Commission into bets he made on the date of the 2024 United Kingdom general election.
See also
Drakeford government Members of the 6th Senedd
References