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The 2024 Welsh Conservatives leadership election was triggered by the resignation of Andrew RT Davies on 3 December 2024. Darren Millar was the only candidate who stepped forward for the leadership. As no other candidate was nominated by the deadline for nominations at 17:00 GMT on 5 December, he was elected unopposed as the new leader of the Welsh Conservative Group in the Senedd.
A confidence motion had been held seeking the removal Davies at a meeting of the Conservative Senedd group on 3 December 2024. Although Davies won the motion with 9 votes to 7, he proceeded resign as leader in the hours following the vote.
Darren Millar was the only candidate to stand in the ensuing leadership election, and was consequently announced as the new Welsh Conservative leader on 5 December.
Background
On 28 November 2024, a group of shadow cabinet ministers approached Davies threatening to resign if he did not vacate his position as Conservative Senedd group leader.
A confidence vote was held at party's weekly group meeting on the following Tuesday, 3 December 2024.
Confidence vote
Despite initial reports that a secret ballot would be held, Nation.Cymru reported that a recorded vote by show of hands was instead conducted.
The confidence motion was narrowly passed, 56.2% to 43.8%.
| Supporters | |
|---|---|
| Confidence (9) | No Confidence (7) |
| Andrew RT Davies | Natasha Asghar |
| Gareth Davies | James Evans |
| Paul Davies | Peter Fox |
| Russell George | Tom Giffard |
| Mark Isherwood | Altaf Hussain |
| Laura Anne Jones | Sam Kurtz |
| Joel James | Sam Rowlands |
| Darren Millar | |
| Janet Finch-Saunders | |
Aftermath
Following the vote, several members of Davies' shadow cabinet threatened to resign their positions.
Thus, despite a narrow majority of the Senedd group backing his continued leadership, Davies published his resignation statement on Twitter shortly before noon on 3 December 2024.
Election
In the subsequent leadership election that followed Davies' resignation, Darren Millar stood as a candidate and was unopposed. Therefore, on 5 December it was announced that Millar would become the new Welsh Conservative leader.
References
- Mosalski, Ruth; Gosley, Ellie (3 December 2024). "Welsh Conservative leader Andrew RT Davies quits despite narrowly surviving no-confidence vote". WalesOnline. Retrieved 5 December 2024.
- Mosalski, Ruth (4 December 2024). "The runners and riders to replace Andrew RT Davies as the Welsh Conservative Senedd leader". WalesOnline. Retrieved 5 December 2024.
- "'Humbled' Darren Millar MS confirmed as new leader of Welsh Conservative Group in the Senedd with unanimous support". Wrexham.com. 5 December 2024. Retrieved 5 December 2024.
- Deans, David (5 December 2024). "Darren Millar elected Welsh Tory leader unopposed". BBC News. Retrieved 5 December 2024.
- Browne, Adrian; Deans, David (5 December 2024). "Who is Darren Millar, new Senedd Tory leader?". BBC News. Retrieved 5 December 2024.
- Deans, David; Browne, Adrian (4 December 2024). "Darren Millar on course to lead Welsh Tories". BBC News. Retrieved 5 November 2024.
- "Tory MSs rally around leadership favourite Darren Millar". Nation.Cymru. 4 December 2024. Retrieved 5 December 2024.
- Price, Emily (2024-11-28). "Andrew RT Davies asked to step down as leader of the Welsh Conservatives by MSs". Nation.Cymru. Retrieved 2024-11-28.
- Lewis, Gareth; Deans, David (2024-11-28). "Tories to vote on Welsh leader's future". BBC News. Retrieved 2024-11-28.
- ^ Price, Emily (2024-12-03). "Andrew RT Davies resigns as leader of the Welsh Conservative Senedd group". Nation.Cymru. Retrieved 2024-12-03.
- Deans, David (2024-12-03). "Welsh Tories: Andrew RT Davies survives leadership vote". BBC News. Retrieved 2024-12-03.
- RT Davies, Andrew (2024-12-03). "With deep regret, I have today resigned as Leader of the Welsh Conservative Senedd Group. Read my letter below" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
- Molaski, Ruth (2024-12-03). "Welsh Conservative leader Andrew RT Davies narrowly survives no-confidence vote". Wales Online. Retrieved 2024-12-03.
- Deans, David (5 December 2024). "Darren Millar elected Welsh Conservative leader unopposed". BBC News. BBC. Retrieved 5 December 2024.
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| 2019–2024 MPs | |
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| 2024 United Kingdom party leadership elections | ||
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| February: Welsh Labour
April: Scottish National Party May: Democratic Unionist Party July: Welsh Labour September: Ulster Unionist Party September: Scottish Conservatives September: Conservative (UK) October: Social Democratic and Labour Party December: Welsh Conservatives December: Liberal Democrats |  | |