Darren Millar Set to Lead Welsh Conservatives

Darren Millar, a senior Welsh Conservative, is poised to become the next leader of the party in the Senedd. With no other potential rivals appearing, the chief whip has secured the public backing of 13 of his party colleagues, including the outgoing leader, Andrew RT Davies. Other individuals considered as potential contenders – Samuel Kurtz, Natasha Asghar, James Evans, and Tom Giffard – have all declared themselves out of the running. Davies submitted his resignation on Tuesday after narrowly winning a confidence vote among the Conservative Senedd group, with nine votes in favour and seven against. He stated that it was “untenable for him to carry on.” This decision followed months of scrutiny regarding the party’s direction in Wales. The departing Welsh Conservative leader indicated that “plotting” within the party’s Senedd group to remove him had been ongoing since April. Given that there are only 16 Conservatives in the Senedd, there are insufficient endorsements remaining to support a second candidate, as hopefuls require the backing of three other members. Nominations are scheduled to close at 1700 GMT on Thursday. If only one candidate is put forward, they will immediately assume the leadership of the Welsh Conservative Senedd group. Millar would be the third leader to take control of a Welsh party in the Senedd without a direct election by party members, following Eluned Morgan for Labour and Rhun ap Iorwerth for Plaid Cymru. First elected as a Member of the Senedd, then known as the National Assembly, in 2007, Millar has held a significant position within the Welsh Conservatives for a considerable period. He notably established his reputation from the outset, being responsible for Labour’s most significant electoral loss on the night of his initial election. He defeated Alun Pugh, who was the culture minister at the time, in Clwyd West, a constituency Millar continues to represent today. As of Wednesday evening, Millar’s supporters include the outgoing leader Andrew RT Davies, former leader Paul Davies, Janet Finch-Saunders, Peter Fox, and Russell George. Laura Anne Jones, Samuel Kurtz, Tom Giffard, James Evans, Altaf Hussain, Joel James, and Gareth Davies have also expressed their support for Millar. Among Millar’s proponents are some of the seven Senedd members who cast votes against Davies on Tuesday. This group included Kurtz, who endorsed Millar on the social network X, stating: “Darren will help inspire them with the possibilities of a brighter, more prosperous future under the Welsh Conservatives.” A supporter commented, “I have all the faith in the world in Darren. He is incredibly capable and able. He’s ticked all the boxes in terms of getting the support he needs.” A minimum of three endorsements from Tory Senedd members, excluding the candidate themselves, is required to stand for the leadership. Giffard disclosed that he had been asked to run but would instead support Millar, whom he described as a “seasoned campaigner” and a “really strong performer in the media.” He refuted claims of “big splits” within the group. Giffard added, “None of this is personal. Everyone likes Andrew regardless of what side of the argument that they were on.” He emphasized, “What’s really important now is that we unite as a party.” Speaking on Wednesday’s Radio Wales Breakfast, Davies stated: “Deep down I think there were plans afoot as far back as April, because I was made aware of a plan to try and open the leadership question in April of this year.” He continued, “They would have picked up on anything to force a vote, and that’s the right in a party to do that, because we live in a democracy, but I don’t believe that the Conservative cause was helped by their plotting and their scheming.” Members of the Senedd (MSs) had voiced their concerns, and, as per Davies, advised him to resign during a meeting held last week. He reported that the MSs presented three points of criticism: his communication strategy, the perception “that I was indifferent to the job,” and his senior advisor’s recent bid to become Welsh Conservative chairman. In the confidence vote, nine Tory Senedd members, including Davies himself, supported him, while seven voted against him. Davies informed the program that it was essential to position the Welsh Conservatives “into the best possible place” to contest the Welsh Labour government in the 2026 Senedd election and “make that change that Wales desperately needs.” He asserted, “That was not going to be achieved with a divided group in the Senedd.” He further explained, “The best way to unite the group, in my mind, was to tender my resignation despite winning the vote of confidence and ultimately allowing a new leader the best opportunity.” Appearing on the same program, Millar commended Davies for having led the Conservatives in Cardiff Bay “with distinction for well over a decade.” Millar stated his intention to build upon Davies’s legacy and “get back to holding the Welsh government to account – that has to be our focus.” When questioned about his preference for a leadership contest over an unopposed “coronation,” he responded that he would be “very happy to take on an opponent.” Peter Fox, a Conservative who voted against Andrew RT Davies on Tuesday, remarked: “Andrew is a really likeable guy, and he’s worked extremely hard for the party.” However, the MS for Monmouth further commented: “There was a range of things that happened over recent months that many of us were starting to feel uncomfortable with.” He elaborated, “By association, and me personally, I felt it was affecting my own credibility and reputation and I couldn’t continue with that. So it was with a heavy heart that any of us had to share our views as we did.”” Fox indicated that the narrative surrounding devolution – specifically, Andrew RT Davies being depicted on social media inquiring with constituents about abolishing the Senedd – “was something many of us couldn’t stand.” He explained, “There isn’t a strategy, there’s not a policy position on these things, but we were by association, aligned with them, and that couldn’t go on.”” Fox denied that the Tory group was divided despite the leadership vote, and also refuted the existence of a plot since April, stating that concerns began to emerge shortly after the general election. He concluded, “Darren is an absolutely excellent MS, and I’m sure everybody will get behind him if he’s successful.”” In response, a Welsh Conservative source commented: “Andrew’s strategy was the only game in town.” The source added: “The refusal of [Fox] and his fellow liberals to change our party is the reason it is in such a perilous state.” This observation was made by BBC Wales political correspondent Daniel Davies. Following a year marked by political turbulence, the Welsh Conservatives appear to have reached a similar juncture as Welsh Labour. Both parties experienced the removal of their leaders by internal critics in 2024. However, the succession has not fallen to their direct rivals. Instead, both parties have designated individuals they hope will foster unity: Eluned Morgan and, most likely, Darren Millar. A further commonality between them is that they both lead parties anticipating challenging Senedd elections in 2026. Copyright 2024 BBC. All rights reserved. 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