Abolish party praises Tories growing anti-Senedd sentiment
Emily Price
The leader of the Abolish the Welsh Assembly party has praised growing anti-Senedd sentiment amongst the Welsh Conservatives and says Andrew RT Davies would be welcomed if he chose to join the organisation.
The single issue party was formed in 2015 with the sole aim of abolishing the Senedd and axing the position of First Minister, instead handing over all devolved powers to Westminster.
Abolish was expected to make an impact at the last Senedd election – but only got 3.7% of the vote.
Key points in the party’s 2021 manifesto included stopping compulsory Welsh language in schools and teaching the National Curriculum for England in schools instead.
It also called for the re-introduction of prescription charges for people in Wales aged between 17 and 64 as is the case in England.
Future
Abolishing the Senedd is against Conservative party policy but in recent months a series of internal rows have brewed over the group’s stance on the future of devolution.
Andrew RT Davies’ senior advisor, George Carroll, has promised a debate on whether the Welsh Parliament should be axed if he is successful in his bid to become the party’s Welsh chairman.
Welsh Conservative MS Peter Fox rejected the idea with a post on X which read: “This is a really unnecessary discourse. The argument should be about who has run the Senedd for 25 years, not the entity itself.”
‘Old guard’
Abolish the Welsh Assembly says the “old guard” of the Welsh Conservatives should abandon what has been for them and their families “a self-enrichment scheme”.
Leader Richard Suchorzewski said: “It now appears a number of aspiring young Conservative party leaders hold a similar view. We have known for years that the majority of Welsh Conservative members also want the Senedd abolished.
“Its time the old Conservative leadership is thrown out and the new wave of patriotic pro UK future leaders are elected to their positions instead.
“We would like to see the same happen with the other major political parties too but won’t hold our breath.”
Asked whether Mr Suchorzewski would like Andrew RT Davies to join his party, he said: “Andrew is welcome to join Abolish as is anyone else – apart from extremists – who will proactively campaign for the abolition of the Senedd.”
Vote
Last month, correspondence leaked to Nation.Cymru revealed a call by a Cardiff Tory Councillor for the party’s policy director to back a vote of grassroots members on the issue.
We also revealed how anti-Senedd MS Joel James had called on residents in his constituency to take part in forums to discuss whether the Welsh Parliament should be abolished.
In June, a rift in the Senedd shadow cabinet appeared to be deepen after Andrew RT Davies organised a stunt at the Vale of Glamorgan Show where people were invited to put balls into two buckets to highlight whether they wanted to abolish the Senedd or not.
The most senior Conservative in Wales argued it was “important to find out what people think”.
Row
Several Welsh Conservative MSs took to social media in what appeared to be a combined effort to undermine their leader.
Shadow Economy Minister Paul Davies posted to X: “The Conservative Party is clear – it is not Party policy to abolish the Senedd so not sure why this question is even being asked.”
Shadow Rural Affairs Minister Sam Kurtz appeared to support Paul Davies, swiftly reposting the comment.
Former Welsh Tory leader Lord Nick Bourne published a post saying: “It has NEVER been the policy of the Welsh Conservative Party to abolish the Assembly/Senedd. Why pose this question? Absolutely right Paul.”
Shadow Minister for Social Services Gareth Davies posted: “I’m on the public record in saying that if I wanted to abolish the Senedd, I’d have never bothered standing for it in the first place.”
Shadow Education Minister Tom Giffard posted: “Abolishing the Senedd won’t be on the ballot at the next election – but Labour’s awful record on health, the economy and education will; as well as our positive plan to turn it around. That’s what we’ll be focusing on.”
Shadow Transport Minister Natasha Asghar posted: “It’s not our policy to abolish the Senedd & I fully support devolution. It brings decision making closer to the people & that, without a doubt, is a good thing
“Devolution is not the issue. The issue is the Labour Party’s complete mismanagement and incompetence.”
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The Abolish Party.
One word. Why?
I don’t think I’m alone having rarely vote for Assembly elections, turnout in Assembly elections has been woeful.
Well then if you don’t vote then you cannot complain.
This is good news because ‘abolition’ will not happen
but it would drive these Tories into further oblivion than they are at the moment.
There is no other way to interpret the following statement by this far-right party’s leader Richard Suchorzewski, as anything else but those who consider themselves to be Welsh are unpatriotic and anethema to the extreme British nationalists – “Its time the old Conservative leadership is thrown out and the new wave of patriotic pro UK future leaders are elected to their positions instead”. Just like his nationalist fellow traveller Putin wants a new wave of pro Russian leaders to take over Ukraine.
Richard Suchorzewski sounds like something that absconded from beyond the Iron Curtain but still yearns for the stifling presence of a dominant neighbour.
I don’t know his ethnic roots, but judging from his surname it sounds like, to quote Gandhi
Trying to make himself master in another man’s land
Abolish should be tried in court for colonialism
Henry 7th colonised England
What a selfish and stupid comment.
Actually treason would be more appropriate. I believes capital punishment is still on the books for that and also Rson at Naval shipyards!
Digon hapus i dynnu’r lefer ar Artie – a’i ddanfon i ebargofiant!
Angen rhaf gryf.
I read this quickly and thought it was about Cymru abolishing the Tories at this years General Election.
Anyone who thinks being anti-decentralised government is pro-union should tell that to an American. Imagine telling Texans they should be completely governed from Washington DC to be a proper American.
For a party that didn’t even get 4% of the vote, at a time when the Welsh Government were making really draconian policies that affected our lives proves that the overwhelming majority of voters in Wales have moved on from the 1997 referendum. So why should the Tories even care what Abolish think. They are anti-Welsh on everything. Dislike the Welsh language, dislike the Welsh national teams, or anything that makes us distinct from England. I wouldn’t be surprised if they all prefer to cheer on England in the Six Nations. As Tom Giffard and Natasha Ashgar correctly pointed out… Read more »
Anti-Welsh, Anglo-supremacist, British nationalist bigots who can go to hell.
Welsh Cons need a new leader and advisors.
Or they all need to adopt a natty big red wig with a big red nose and size 57 shoes that are brightly coloured and a smart white jacket covered in red and yellow spots and they all arrive at the Senedd in a small car and tumble out on the steps honking old car horns……
Just hope they keep to the 20mph speed limit, now stop it before my sides split anymore!
The way the Cons are going they’ll have room to spare if they turn up on a unicycle.
Anyone who wants to abolish our Parliament should be treated as nothing less than traitors to our country.
Good to read that …..”Welsh Conservative MS Peter Fox rejected the idea with a post on X which read: “This is a really unnecessary discourse. The argument should be about who has run the Senedd for 25 years, not the entity itself.”
Seems that there is still one fairly sane Tory left at Y Senedd !
Just the fact that an “abolish” party exists should be a warning.
This is nothing more than racism with a new name, and zllnof it’s members and supporters should be treated as such.
Supporting any kind of abolish party is the most vile and disturbing mindset.
Such a party would also be of questionable legality in many democracies, I would have thought.
While devolution sounded like a good idea, the standard of Government in Wales over the past 24 years has been appalling.
You’ll agree, then, that any blame attaches to the performance of the Welsh Government and not to devolution itself. Bear in mind also that the powers granted to any Welsh Government are severely restricted, and in some instances pretty toothless.
Actually it’s been fine judged by the low bar set by Whitehall. There’s plenty of room for improvement but reinstating imperial rule wouldn’t deliver that improvement.
If you feel that way then vote them out!! Thats what Senedd elections are for
If you take their biefs to their logical conclusion let’s abolish Westminster and Democracy and resort to a dictatorship or, perhaps a ruling King. Highly Efficient, and cost effective.
Why does Nation Cymru not expose the recurring career failures of these nonentities?
They are only there to bottom feed the cesspit of what is left of Conservative colonialism.