IF you’re a Conservative, these are difficult days, writes the Chair of Mid & West Wales Conservatives, Charlie Evans.
If you’re a Welsh Tory, these are difficult days multiplied by 100.
After the General Election, I described this as a “change or die” moment for the Conservative Party. In Wales, with the triple threat of Reform, Plaid and Labour, this plight is more acutely felt. Decisive action is needed to reverse this trajectory.
This week, Andrew RT Davies resigned as Senedd leader after surviving a “back me or sack me” vote of no confidence. While he retained enough support to stay, the divisions within the group made effective leadership increasingly challenging.
A few words on Andrew: I hold him in high regard and respect the significant contribution he has made to Welsh politics. I am personally disappointed he has resigned, and I feel colleagues have let him down.
Beyond his adversarial style, which I admire, Andrew has been a principled and dedicated leader. Over 13 years, he consistently championed the party, even in tough constituencies, demonstrating loyalty and perseverance. His understanding of the political realignment following the Brexit vote in 2016 was a key strength. Still, the party as a whole struggled to fully capitalise on these shifting tectonic plates- either through a lack of political nous or outright refusal.
Darren Millar is the new leader.
Darren is very effective, a shrewd operator, well respected, and, like Andrew, holds no barred in the Senedd. Crucially, he commands the unanimous support of the Senedd Group. The party needs to get behind him.
Darren needs no advice- he’s been around for some time!- but nonetheless, here are some thoughts on where the Welsh Conservatives must go from here:
VISION
There is an ideological tussle for the soul of the Welsh Conservatives. That has led to a policy vacuum, which is on the whole Senedd Group – it wasn’t just on Andrew.
Despite being on the Welsh Party Board, not even I can tell what the Welsh Conservatives stand for. How can we expect the electorate to vote for us in such circumstances?
With only 18 months to go until the Senedd Election, it’s about time the Welsh Party defined what it stands for. Simply not being Labour doesn’t cut it – the electorate can go and vote for Plaid Cymru or Reform instead. What is it to be a Welsh Tory? If we can’t answer this question, we will be electoral toast.
But the starting point, the “first principles,” to coin a phrase from Kemi Badenoch, has to mean embracing political realignment. Wales is a socially conservative nation rooted in communitarian economic principles.
Speak to Plaid voters in Gwynedd or Reform voters in South Wales’s ex-mining communities. Linguistic and cultural divisions may exist, but there are common ties:
- A rejection of extreme progressive ideology emanating from Cardiff Bay.
- An embrace of the values of family, community and nation.
- Being tough on crime.
- A desire to see public services just delivered properly.
For us Conservatives, it means being right-wing in culture and flexible in the economy, exposing Reform’s libertarian inclinations and Plaid Cymru’s nationalist and independence agitation.
Take Port Talbot Steel. We’ve lost good jobs in Port Talbot. Deindustrialisation savaged so many Welsh communities, and the recent job loss is compounding economic woes further. The UK Labour Government is scoping out nationalising British Steel. When we were in power, we missed an opportunity to say that for industries in the strategic national (British) interest, we will do whatever it takes to stop the offshoring of jobs and carbon, including nationalisation.
It means engaging with the constitutional question.
“It’s not devolution’s fault, it’s Labour’s” is the line. But not even nationalists believe that. If devolution is a process, not an event, then we Tories should engage with it.
Where should powers belong? Why is everything blocked in Cardiff? Where the Welsh Government consistently fails and can’t exercise devolved competencies properly, why shouldn’t powers be handed back? What powers are best exercised at the local authority level?
“No more politicians” isn’t enough—we need to be known for what we are for, not simply what we are against.
PROFESSIONALISM
The Senedd Group has faced challenges in recent years, including a lack of cohesion and clarity in its operations. To regain credibility, the group must adopt a more professional and focused approach. There is little assurance that this is a professionally run organisation, and it just wouldn’t be accepted in the “real” world.
Research and policy development should be well-developed, with members at the process’ heart, and grounded in conservative principles of family, community and country – not a copy-and-paste job from lobbyists emanating around Cardiff Bay.
Additionally, Darren Millar must prioritise creating a collaborative and supportive culture within the group. A house divided cannot stand. The whole Welsh Party needs to feel part of a shared mission, not hindered by petty squabbling. However, it can’t be unity for unity’s sake. The whole party- voluntary, professional and Senedd- must work it through. The Welsh Party is siloed, but developing a shared mission can’t be shaped by financial interest or electoral self-preservation.
Get it right, we can demonstrate that we are serious about presenting ourselves as a credible alternative party to Labour, Plaid and Reform.
Get it wrong, and we’ll get swallowed up in the huge political tsunami that is sweeping across Wales.
MEMBERS
Members are the party’s backbone, and rebuilding trust and engagement is critical. Many feel disillusioned, but this presents an opportunity for renewal. The party must work to re-engage its base and attract new members.
Social events should be made more accessible, appealing to a broader audience and creating opportunities for genuine community engagement. Throw out the wine and cheese and go paintballing instead. We don’t need rigid “Conservative Policy Forums”. Go down to the pub and debate policy there. It will not only broaden the party’s perspectives but also ensure members feel valued and heard.
Candidate selection processes must also be transparent and merit-based. Members need to trust that their voices are respected and that selections are based on fairness and competence, not predetermined outcomes.
This is a mission-critical period for the Welsh Conservative Party.
The party has an opportunity to define its vision, professionalise its operations, and rebuild its grassroots strength. With decisive action and a clear strategy, the Welsh Conservatives can rise to meet the moment.
