Paul Davies (politician)

Paul Windsor Davies (born 1969) is a British politician who currently serves as Member of the Senedd (MS) for Preseli Pembrokeshire, a position he has held since 2007 election. He gained the seat from Labour and was re-elected in May 2011,[1] May 2016 [2] and again in May 2021.[3]

Paul Davies
MS
Davies in 2021
Leader of the Opposition
In office
27 June 2018 – 23 January 2021
MonarchElizabeth II
First MinisterCarwyn Jones
Mark Drakeford
Preceded byAndrew RT Davies
Succeeded byAndrew RT 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 RT Davies
Succeeded byAndrew RT Davies
Acting
6 May 2011 – 14 July 2011
LeaderDavid Cameron
Preceded byNick Bourne
Succeeded byAndrew RT Davies
Deputy Leader of the
Welsh Conservatives
In office
14 July 2011 – 27 June 2018
LeaderAndrew RT Davies
Succeeded bySuzy Davies
Member of the Senedd
for Preseli Pembrokeshire
Assumed office
3 May 2007
Preceded byTamsin Dunwoody
Majority1,400 (4.4%)
Personal details
Born1969 (age 53–54)
Wales
Political partyConservative
Residence(s)Haverfordwest, Wales
Websitewww.paul-davies.org.uk

Davies served as Leader of the Welsh Conservatives and Leader of the Opposition in Wales from 27 June 2018 to 23 January 2021, having previously been Deputy Leader from 2011 to 2018 and Acting Leader in 2011 and 2018. He resigned as Welsh Conservative Leader after possible breaches of Welsh COVID-19 rules.[4]

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.[5][6]

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.[5]

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.[7] He resigned as Leader of the Welsh Conservatives and Leader of the Opposition on 23 January 2021, after he was involved in an incident with possible breaches of Welsh COVID-19 regulations in December 2020.[8] In April 2022 Paul Davies was cleared of breaking the Senedd's code of conduct.[9]

References
  1. "BBC News – Election 2011 – Wales – Preseli Pembrokeshire". BBC News.
  2. "Assembly Election 2016: The full list of Welsh AMs". WalesOnline. 6 May 2016. Retrieved 9 May 2016.
  3. "Senedd Election 2021: Paul Davies". South Wales Argus.
  4. "Tory Senedd leader Paul Davies quits over alcohol row". BBC News. 23 January 2021. Retrieved 23 January 2021.
  5. "Paul Davies AM". Retrieved 7 March 2019.
  6. "National Assembly for Wales: Paul Davies AM". Retrieved 30 December 2017.
  7. "Paul Davies wins Welsh Tory assembly group leadership poll". BBC News. 6 September 2018. Retrieved 6 September 2018.
  8. "Tory Senedd leader Paul Davies quits over alcohol row". BBC News. 23 January 2021. Retrieved 23 January 2021.
  9. "Senedd booze ban politicians cleared". BBC News.
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