Leader of the Opposition in Wales

In the Senedd Cymru – Welsh Parliament, the office of Leader of the Opposition (Welsh: Arweinydd yr Wrthblaid) is held by the leader of the largest party group not in government. Since 24 January 2021, the current office holder has been Andrew R. T. Davies following the resignation of Paul Davies the following day.[2] To date the office has been held by six individuals, three from Plaid Cymru and three from the Welsh Conservatives. Only one, Ieuan Wyn Jones, has gone on to serve in the Welsh Government.

Leader of the Opposition in the Senedd
Incumbent
Andrew R. T. Davies
since 24 January 2021
StyleMember of the Senedd (MS)
Term lengthWhile leader of the largest political party not in government
Inaugural holderDafydd Wigley
FormationMay 1999
Salary£13,578 + £1,044 per group member (up to £37,601) in addition to £66,847 AM's salary [1]

History

Between July 2007 and May 2011, Nick Bourne served as Leader of the Opposition, even though the Conservatives were the third largest group in the Assembly. This was a result of the Welsh Government's consisting of Labour and Plaid Cymru, which were the largest and second largest groups respectively.

Following the 2016 election, Plaid Cymru (led by Leanne Wood) became the largest group not in government, having won 12 seats to the Welsh Conservatives' 11. On 14 October 2016 Dafydd Elis-Thomas left Plaid Cymru to sit as an independent, which resulted in Plaid Cymru and the Welsh Conservatives' both holding 11 seats. During this period Leanne Wood was not referred to as Leader of the Opposition but was instead referred to as the leader of Plaid Cymru.[3] The Conservative group grew to 12 following Mark Reckless's defection from UKIP to the Conservative Group on 6 April 2017, and Andrew R. T. Davies was once again referred to as Leader of the Opposition.[4] The office was vacant following Paul Davies’ resignation as leader of the Welsh Conservatives on the 23 January 2021 after he could of broken COVID regulations.[5] There was a short discussion between Conservative Members of the Senedd the following day where they gave there unanimous support for Andrew RT Davies to become leader.[2]

List of Leaders of the Opposition in the Senedd
No. Portrait Name
(Birth–Death)
Constituency/Title		 Term of office Political party First Minister
1 Dafydd Wigley
(1943–)
AM for Caernarfon		 12 May
1999		 16 March
2000		 Plaid Cymru Alun Michael
Rhodri Morgan
2 Ieuan Wyn Jones
(1949–)
AM for Ynys Môn		 16 March
2000		 11 July
2007		 Plaid Cymru Rhodri Morgan
3 Nick Bourne
(1952–)
AM for Mid and West Wales		 11 July
2007		 6 May
2011		 Conservative Rhodri Morgan
Carwyn Jones
– Paul Davies
Acting
(1969–)
MS for Preseli Pembrokeshire		 6 May
2011		 14 July
2011		 Conservative Carwyn Jones
4 Andrew R. T. Davies
(1968–)
MS for South Wales Central		 14 July
2011		 5 May
2016		 Conservative
5 Leanne Wood
(1971–)
MS for Rhondda		 5 May
2016		 14 October
2016[6]		 Plaid Cymru
Not in use

14 Oct 2016 – 6 April 2017
During this period both Plaid Cymru and the Welsh Conservatives were tied on 11 seats each. Leanne Wood was not referred to as Leader of the Opposition during this period and was instead referred to as leader of Plaid Cymru.[7] The Conservative group grew to 12 following Mark Reckless's defection from UKIP to the Conservatives on 6 April, and Andrew R. T. Davies was referred to as Leader of the Opposition once more.[8]

(4) Andrew R. T. Davies
(1968–)
MS for South Wales Central		 6 April
2017		 27 June
2018		 Conservative
6 Paul Davies
(1969–)
MS for Preseli Pembrokeshire		 27 June
2018 [9]		 23 January

2021

 Conservative Carwyn Jones
Mark Drakeford
(4) Andrew R. T. Davies
(1968–)
MS for South Wales Central		 24 January

2021[2]

 Incumbent Conservative Mark Drakeford

See also

References
  1. Determination on Members’ Pay and Allowances 2018 — 2019 Point 3.1.4 Table 1
  2. "Andrew RT Davies returns as Welsh Conservatives leader". BBC News. 2021-01-24. Retrieved 2021-01-24.
  3. http://www.assembly.wales/en/bus-home/pages/rop.aspx?meetingid=3998&language=en&assembly=5&c=Record%20of%20Proceedings&startDt=14/10/2016&endDt=28/10/2016
  4. http://www.assembly.wales/en/bus-home/pages/rop.aspx?meetingid=4284&language=en&assembly=5&c=Record%20of%20Proceedings&startDt=11/04/2017&endDt=02/05/2017
  5. "Tory Senedd leader Paul Davies quits over alcohol row". BBC News. 2021-01-23. Retrieved 2021-01-23.
  6. The day Dafydd Elis-Thomas left Plaid Cymru to sit as an independent AM.
  7. http://www.assembly.wales/en/bus-home/pages/rop.aspx?meetingid=3998&language=en&assembly=5&c=Record%20of%20Proceedings&startDt=14/10/2016&endDt=28/10/2016
  8. http://www.assembly.wales/en/bus-home/pages/rop.aspx?meetingid=4284&language=en&assembly=5&c=Record%20of%20Proceedings&startDt=11/04/2017&endDt=02/05/2017
  9. Served as acting leader from 27 June to 6 September 2018.
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