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David TC Davies says he won’t take the Welsh Secretary post after Simon Hart resigns

07 Jul 2022 4 minute read
Virginia Crosbie MP – the new PPS for the Welsh Office – with the Secretary of State for Wales, Rt Hon Simon Hart MP (left), and Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Wales David TC Davies (right).

The Wales Office’s second in command has said that he won’t take the Welsh Secretary post after Simon Hart resigned yesterday amid Boris Johnson’s leadership crisis.

David TC Davies said that he had made “clear last night” that he would not take the role if Simon Hart vacated the post.

The Carmarthen West and South Pembrokeshire MP resigned as Welsh Secretary last night saying he had “no other option left” after being among a delegation of ministers that went to Downing Street to encourage the Prime Minister to step down.

Monmouth MP David TC Davies, who is the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Wales, gave no indication that he would be following him in resigning but posted his former boss’ resignation letter online.

“It has been a privilege to work for Simon who did a great job as Sec of State for Wales,” he said. “We should not be in the position of losing decent and hard working Ministers. I made clear last night that I will not take the role.”

Wales Office PPS, Ynys Môn’s MP Virginia Crosbie, was one of the first to resign on Tuesday, meaning that David TC Davies is now the only minister left in the Wales Office.

‘Grateful’

Simon Hart has been Welsh Secretary since December 2019, when Vale of Glamorgan MP Alun Cairns resigned from the role in the run-up to that year’s General Election.

It has been a long day in politics for the Carmarthen West and South Pembrokeshire MP who said that it was “business as usual” just that morning, but had faced being sarcastically waved off by Plaid Cymru MPs.

“I had desperately hoped that I could avoid writing this letter, but alas there seems no other option left but to step down from my role as Secretary of State for Wales,” he said in his resignation letter.

“You will be remembered as a Prime Minister with energy, vision, determination and humour. There was never a dull moment as a Minister in your Government, and I will be forever grateful to have been given the chance to be part of it.

“I have never been a massive fan of Ministerial resignations being the best means of forcing change. Colleagues have done their upmost in private and public to help you turn the ship around, but it is with sadness that I feel we have passed the point where this is possible.”

‘No idea’

Resigning on Tuesday, Virginia Crosbie, who was only elected under Boris Johnson’s leadership in 2019, said that the Prime Minister’s position was now “untenable”.

“I am of the view that if you continue in office then you risk irrevocably harming this government, and the Conservative party and will hand the keys of Downing Street to a Labour Party unfit to govern,” she said.

She cited the handling of the Chris Pincher row, after it emerged earlier today that the Prime Minister had “forgotten” about being told of previous allegations of “inappropriate” conduct.

“I have no idea what is happening at Downing Street but it appears you are either badly advised or unable to change or reform the dysfunctional operation at the centre of the government you lead,” she said.

Meanwhile, Andrew RT Davies, Leader of the Welsh Conservatives in the Senedd, said that Boris Johnson needed to show that he had control of the party.

“I’ve always said it was essential for the Prime Minister to hold the confidence of our country, party and parliament,” he said.

“It’s disappointing that in recent months the government has struggled to deliver on its important agenda and manifesto commitments that were overwhelmingly endorsed in 2019.

“The Prime Minister must now prove that he can deliver on his mandate.”


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Dewi Davies
Dewi Davies
2 years ago

I think I have a solution for Boris.Hes struggling to fill the ministerial vacancies so why doesn’t he draft in agency staff like Shapps was going to do with the railways..Its cant be that difficult considering the numbskulls they would be replacing. And when hes at it he can place them on zero hours contracts..Isnt that tory policy?

The original mark
The original mark
2 years ago
Reply to  Dewi Davies

Agency staff might do a better job?

Dewi Davies
Dewi Davies
2 years ago

Without a shadow of doubt.

Cathy Jones
Cathy Jones
2 years ago

We could save money on agency fees (and not be perpetuating unfair recruitment and working practices) by replacing Johnson with a sexually overactive pig.

Cathy Jones
Cathy Jones
2 years ago

R.T Davis has shown himself up here… its what he didn’t say, its what he didn’t even hint at, that shows him up for the vile ghoul that he is…Not one word of condemnation, just a lot of waffle about a mandate that Boris Johnson does not and did not have, the only reason the Tories ever get into power is because of the archaic, undemocratic and easily gamed system of “first past the post” voting. No more tories in Cymru. Andrew R.T. Davies should resign, he shows far too much support and admiration for a man who at best… Read more »

The original mark
The original mark
2 years ago
Reply to  Cathy Jones

When doesn’t he show himself up, his very existence as a politician is an embarrassment, very much in the Westminster mould

Kerry Davies
Kerry Davies
2 years ago
Reply to  Cathy Jones

Memory not what it was? Arty did resign leadership of the Tories in Wales only for his scandal riddled party to lose his replacement to a peculiarly Welsh form of “Partygate” within a few months.
All tarred with the same brush but we lack the feathers.

The original mark
The original mark
2 years ago

In other news, RT Davies, said the captain of the Titanic should have shown he had control of the ship.

Ieuan Evans
Ieuan Evans
2 years ago

He obviously knows his limits.

I.Humphrys
I.Humphrys
2 years ago

Only thing missing is their armbands!

GW Atkinson
GW Atkinson
2 years ago

Good, because that humanoid looks and acts like a failed Bond villain.

Y Cymro
Y Cymro
2 years ago

It doesn’t matter who becomes the Welsh Secretary. It’s a post & office that’s an irrelevance today.

#WelshOffice 🇬🇧. #WelshSecretary 🇬🇧. #WhiteElephant

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