First Shadow Cabinet of Andrew RT Davies

First RT Davies Shadow Cabinet

Shadow Cabinet of Wales
2011-2016
RT Davies' Assembly photo, 2016
People and organisations
MonarchElizabeth II
Leader of the Opposition and Shadow First MinisterAndrew RT Davies
Member party
  •   Welsh Conservative
Status in legislatureOfficial Opposition
14 / 60 (23%)
(2011)
History
Election2011 assembly election
Legislature term4th National Assembly for Wales
PredecessorShadow Cabinet of Nick Bourne
Interim Shadow Cabinet of Paul Davies (May-Jul 2011)
SuccessorShadow Cabinet of Leanne Wood

Andrew RT Davies became Leader of the Opposition in July 2011, after he was elected leader of the Welsh Conservatives,[1] which formed the second largest party bloc in the National Assembly for Wales (later Senedd) after the 2011 National Assembly for Wales election.[2]

The Welsh Conservatives had previously formed the opposition under Nick Bourne from 2007-2011 while the third largest party, as the second largest party, Plaid Cymru, joined Welsh Labour in government. At the 2011 election, the Conservatives became the second largest overall party, gaining two seats, whilst Plaid Cymru lost 4.[2] Bourne lost his seat at the 2011 Assembly election,[3] prompting the 2011 Welsh Conservatives leadership election. Andrew RT Davies won this election, defeating Nick Ramsay with RT Davies receiving 53.1% of the vote.[1] He took leadership of the party, and the role of Leader of the Opposition in July 2011. Paul Davies had served as interim leader for the two month period between the Assembly election and the choice of a leader.[4]

Davies' Shadow Cabinet lasted until the 2016 National Assembly for Wales election, after which Plaid Cymru briefly became the second largest party, forming a Shadow Cabinet under Leanne Wood.[5] However, after Dafydd Elis-Thomas left Plaid Cymru,[6] and UKIP's Mark Reckless joined the Conservative group in the Assembly the Welsh Conservatives again became the largest Assembly Group,[7] allowing Andrew RT Davies to form his Second Shadow Cabinet in 2017. He would later form two more Shadow Cabinets, the third from January to March 2021[8][9] and the fourth from 2021 to present.[10]

  1. ^ a b "Andrew RT Davies elected Tory Welsh assembly leader". BBC News. 2011-07-14. Retrieved 2024-07-12.
  2. ^ a b "2011 Assembly Election Results May 2011" (PDF). National Assembly for Wales. Retrieved 12 May 2022.
  3. ^ "Tory leader Bourne loses his seat". BBC News. 2011-05-06. Retrieved 2024-07-12.
  4. ^ Cite error: The named reference :2 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  5. ^ "Plaid Cymru's Leanne Wood names 'strong' shadow cabinet". BBC News. 2016-05-25. Retrieved 2024-07-12.
  6. ^ "Plaid Cymru AM Lord Dafydd Elis-Thomas quits party". BBC News. 2016-10-14. Retrieved 2024-07-12.
  7. ^ "UKIP's Mark Reckless to join Conservatives in assembly". BBC News. 2017-04-06. Retrieved 2024-07-12.
  8. ^ "Newly appointed Welsh Conservatives leader Andrew RT Davies announces Shadow Cabinet". ITV News Wales. 24 January 2021. Retrieved 13 July 2024.
  9. ^ "Wales election: Nick Ramsay leaves Welsh Tories to stand as independent". BBC News. 2021-03-29. Retrieved 2024-07-13.
  10. ^ Owen, Cathy (2021-05-27). "Tory MSs who drank in Senedd during alcohol ban get top roles". Wales Online. Retrieved 2024-07-13.