Pro-devolution Conservative Senedd Member loses place on winnable regional list seat

A pro-devolution Conservative Senedd Member has lost her place on top of the regional South West Wales list.

The news, reported by right-leaning news blog Bubble Wales, means that her place in the Senedd after May’s election is far from assured.

Suzy Davies, who challenged for the Welsh Conservative leadership in 2018, has been a Senedd Member since 2011.

The Welsh Conservative are essentially guaranteed a list seat in the South Wales West region due to every constituency being a fairly safe Labour seat. However, they are less likely to pick up a second.

The Welsh Conservative candidate lists is expected to be confirmed tonight.

Suzy Davies is also a candidate in Bridgend, which the Conservatives picked up at the Westminster elections in 2019 but which Labour hold fairly comfortably at the Senedd.

The decision not to select Suzy Davies in first place on the list tip the balance within the Welsh Conservative group towards a more devo-sceptic direction.

Nation.Cymru revealed before Christmas that candidates on the South Wales Central regional list, including key Conservative campaign strategist Chris Thorne, and Calum Davies (Suzy Davies’ son), promised to Abolish the Senedd in their pitch to members.

Suzy Davies’ ousting from the top of the list is the second surprise result of the selection process after Jonathan Morgan, who has previously represented the party in Cardiff Bay and is currently an advisor to party leader Paul Davies, was not shortlisted for South Wales Central.