Paul Davies (politician)

Paul Windsor Davies (born 1969) is a Welsh politician who served as Leader of the Welsh Conservatives and Leader of the Opposition in Wales from 2018 to 2021. He was Deputy Leader from 2011 to 2018, serving as Acting Leader in 2011 and 2018.

Paul Davies

MS
Leader of the Opposition
In office
27 June 2018 – 23 January 2021
MonarchElizabeth II
First MinisterCarwyn Jones
Mark Drakeford
Preceded byAndrew R. T. Davies
Succeeded byAndrew R. T. Davies
Leader of the Welsh Conservatives
In office
27 June 2018 – 23 January 2021
Acting: 27 June 2018 – 6 September 2018
DeputySuzy Davies
LeaderTheresa May
Boris Johnson
Preceded byAndrew R. T. Davies
Succeeded byAndrew R. T. Davies
In office
6 May 2011 – 14 July 2011
Acting
LeaderDavid Cameron
Preceded byNick Bourne
Succeeded byAndrew R. T. Davies
Deputy Leader of the
Welsh Conservatives
In office
14 July 2011 – 27 June 2018
LeaderAndrew R. T. Davies
Succeeded bySuzy Davies
Member of the Senedd
for Preseli Pembrokeshire
Assumed office
3 May 2007
Preceded byTamsin Dunwoody
Majority3,930 (13.6%)
Personal details
Born1969 (age 51–52)
Wales
Political partyConservative
Websitewww.paul-davies.org.uk

Davies resigned as Welsh Conservative Leader after possible breaches of Welsh COVID-19 rules.[1] He currently serves as Member of the Senedd for Preseli Pembrokeshire since 3 May 2007. He gained the seat from Labour and was re-elected in May 2011,[2] and again in May 2016.[3]

Background

Davies grew up in Pontsian. He attended Tregroes Primary School and Llandysul Grammar School, obtaining A levels at Newcastle Emlyn Comprehensive School. Davies now lives in Blaenffos, north Pembrokeshire.[4][5]

Professional career

On leaving school in 1987 aged 18 Davies started working for Lloyds TSB as a bank clerk based in Haverfordwest. He remained with the bank until his election to the National Assembly in 2007, having risen to become a Business Manager.[4]

Political career

In February 2000, Davies was adopted as the Conservative Party candidate in the Ceredigion by-election; he came in third place in the results having improved the Conservatives' vote. He then fought the seat in the 2001 general election. In the Senedd election of 2003, he fought Preseli Pembrokeshire where he increased the share of the vote from 23% to 30%, cutting the Labour Party's majority to 1,326.

Davies has also held office within the Conservative Party including chairman of Ceredigion Conservative Association and Deputy Chairman of Mid and West Wales Conservatives.

He was first elected to the Senedd in 2007. Until March 2009 he served as Shadow Minister for Culture, the Welsh Language and Sport. From March 2009 until the Senedd in 2011, Davies held the role of Shadow Minister for Education and the Welsh Language. After his re-election as Senedd Member for Preseli Pembrokeshire in May 2011, he briefly held the role of Interim Leader of the Welsh Conservative Senedd Group before being appointed as Deputy Leader of the Welsh Conservative Senedd Group, and Shadow Minister for Finance.

Davies was elected Leader of the Welsh Conservatives in September 2018.[6] He resigned as Leader of the Welsh Conservatives and Leader of the Opposition on 23 January 2021, after he was exposed as being involved in an incident with possible breaches of Welsh COVID-19 regulations in December 2020.[7]

References
  1. "Tory Senedd leader Paul Davies quits over alcohol row". BBC News. 23 January 2021. Retrieved 23 January 2021.
  2. "BBC News – Election 2011 – Wales – Preseli Pembrokeshire". BBC News.
  3. "Assembly Election 2016: The full list of Welsh AMs". WalesOnline. 6 May 2016. Retrieved 9 May 2016.
  4. "Paul Davies AM". Retrieved 7 March 2019.
  5. "National Assembly for Wales: Paul Davies AM". Retrieved 30 December 2017.
  6. "Paul Davies wins Welsh Tory assembly group leadership poll". BBC News. 6 September 2018. Retrieved 6 September 2018.
  7. "Tory Senedd leader Paul Davies quits over alcohol row". BBC News. 23 January 2021. Retrieved 23 January 2021.
Senedd Cymru
Preceded by
Tamsin Dunwoody		 Member of the Senedd for Preseli Pembrokeshire
2007–present		 Incumbent
Political offices
Preceded by
Andrew R. T. Davies		 Leader of the Welsh Conservatives
2018–2021		 Succeeded by
Andrew R. T. Davies
Preceded by
 Shadow Minister for Finance
2011–2016		 Succeeded by
Adam Price
Preceded by
 Deputy Leader of the Welsh Conservatives in the Senedd
2011–2018		 Succeeded by
Suzy Davies
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