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Opinion

Is this the end for Andrew RT Davies?

12 Aug 2024 6 minute read
Leader of the Welsh Conservatives, Andrew RT Davies – Image: Stefan Rousseau

Ethan Jones

Is it the end of the road for Andrew RT Davies as leader of the Conservative Party in Wales? The combative culture warrior has had a rocky couple of weeks as his abrasive social media style and lack of strong leadership has seen the Welsh Tories landed in all sorts of bother.

Mr Davies’ latest spree of controversy began with the publication of misinformation around Halal school meals via his social media. Davies wrote a letter to Cowbridge School alleging that he had been informed by a constituent that the school only served Halal meat.

RT Davies did not wait for the school to respond, but instead plastered it all over his social media – the school later clarified the allegations were false.

The misinformation contained within the Welsh Tory leader’s letter was latched upon and amplified by the far-right fugitive, Stephen Yaxley-Lennon – also known as Tommy Robinson. Davies’ allegations then went viral with exactly the type of reaction you’d expect from that crowd.

Divisive

When the school clarified that the allegations put forward by Mr Davies were complete and utter twaddle – my words not theirs – the Welsh Tory leader decided to go on the offensive once again and took issue with the “tone” of the school’s statement. He then doubled down on the issue when writing for GBNews, proclaiming children “should not be forced to eat Halal meat.”

One would think the current climate in UK politics would give Andrew RT Davies pause for thought. But no. He’s decided to keep pushing the Halal meat issue in a divisive manner and published a letter he’d written to Vale of Glamorgan Council demanding answers on the topic.

Davies had only granted the Council 5 minutes right of reply before posting his letter on social media. Again, Davies’ assertions and allegations were completely dismantled. But damage has been done; to both Davies’ leadership and the Muslim community of Wales in particular.

Natasha Asghar, a Muslim Conservative Party MS for South East Wales, took the brave step of calling-out her party leader’s behaviour. Asghar said she had made her feelings clear to Mr Davies on the issue and that she is a firm believer in diversity and freedom of choice.

Many had warned that Andrew RT Davies’ cavalier attitude on the issue may spill out into real-world consequences. You only need to glance at a comments section on this issue and you’ll see people who have swallowed Davies’ implication that all school children are being “forced” to eat Halal meals, it is utter bilge but a seed has been planted in some people’s heads. Several overtly racist posts from Facebook users were posted in reply to Andrew RT Davies’ letters on his Facebook page, but were not removed – as one would expect from a sensible politician – by him or his staff.

Graffiti

However, the fallout is not limited to Mr Davies’ comments section on his social media accounts. Anti-Halal graffiti inclusive of Nazi symbols and Islamophobic comment has appeared in areas of Newport, which is in Natasha Asghar’s constituency. The Faizan e Madina Mosque in Newport has also been attacked with its window smashed.

This has prompted the Muslim Council of Wales to accuse Andrew RT Davies of “Islamophobic race-baiting” and “dog-whistle racism.” The faith council also warned of the impact the misinformation may have on Muslim children when school pupils return to the classroom in September. Davies’ behaviour has been condemned by all other parties in the Senedd.

However, that is not where the concerns around racism end. Last week it was revealed that Laura Anne Jones, a Tory MS who is currently under police investigation for alleged false expenses claims, had posted a racist slur in a WhatsApp group chat with staff. To which a member replied; “that’s the Laura we love.” Jones has since apologised.

Leadership

Did Andrew RT Davies show strong leadership and remove the whip? No, he hasn’t and he refused comment to the media. Jones still retains the whip, despite the police investigation, controversy around offensive leaked WhatsApp messages and now this reveal of the casual deployment of racist slurs to staff.

This is not the first time that Jones’ inappropriate behaviour came to the fore. In March 2021 Jones apologised after it emerged she had posted on Facebook that she would like to shoot chavs and that it was “a shame that isn’t legal.” Why does RT Davies allow such an individual to retain the whip and his support?

He has so-far refused to take any meaningful action to remedy either controversy and instead went off-script at the Vale of Glamorgan Show, canvassing attendees as to whether they’d like to abolish devolution. A move which prompted almost half his MS’ and two former Welsh Tory leaders to distance themselves from him.

To say Davies’ leadership is weak would be an understatement. However, to say he does not lead by example would be harsh. As they say “a fish rots from the head down.” RT does indeed lead the way with erratic behaviour and showing little regard for the consequences; behaviour some of his MS’ seem emboldened to embark upon with no threat of recourse from their head-honcho.

Crisis

As his party is gripped by a racism crisis, much of it by his own actions, RT is nowhere to be seen other than complaining to the BBC that he is more sinned against than sinning. There are no plans for the Tory Senedd Group to hold a crisis meeting and their leader is seemingly content to be sat at home tweeting about the Olympics. Weak. Weak. Weak.

It seems to me that Andrew RT Davies’ shtick is reaching its conclusion. His rural Farage-esque beery routine with a smattering of affable farming antics and enthusiasm for Greggs the baker has run its course. The Barbour-clad bonhomie has descended into a gillet wrapped Mr Tumble tribute act.

It has got to the stage where Davies’ erratic behaviour and seeming descent down far-right rabbit holes must end, Welsh politics would be the better for it and benefit from a moderate hand on the tiller of our country’s official opposition.

It’s time for RT to shuffle off the stage of frontline politics. My message to all moderate Tory MS’ is; do us all a favour, please get rid!


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Fi yn unig
Fi yn unig
3 months ago

The time had come to shuffle off the stage of frontline politics when he shuffled onto it. Don’t forget, this is someone Jacob Rees Mogg has never heard of. When he was asked who their leader was in Wales, he replied Simon Hart. This ranks alongside Trump banging on about airfields in 1775. When he goes, many will say ‘who?’.

James Fife
James Fife
3 months ago

Just preening his plumage before a jump to Reform. If he’s pushed out first, all the better: a martyr for the cause!

Martyn Vaughan
Martyn Vaughan
3 months ago

One can but hope.

Old Curmudgeon
Old Curmudgeon
3 months ago

And yet again we seem to have a person who is being paid to do a job that is beyond his capabilities. The things that he has been coming out with would be silly at anytime but in the wake of all that’s been going on recently he could be seen as provocative. Any person in his job with any common sense would have looked at what happened to Vaughan Gething and learned from it. This man is a waste of space.

Silent J
Silent J
3 months ago

He’s trying to be martyred so he can secure a lucrative gig on GB news before the next tory PM sends him to the retirement home that is the house of lords

Gareth
Gareth
3 months ago

He will hang on for as long as he can, and do exactly as he did with the EU, that is, collect all the money he can, in this case a MS salary and more, as leader of the opposition, and from the EU, thousands in grants, while at the same time oppose the institution from whom he is getting his cash. The acts of a person displaying no morals or a sense of shame.

Alwyn
Alwyn
3 months ago

I suspect that he’s decided that raising controversy pays him better than farming; not sure if that’s because he’s a worse farmer even than he is a politician?

John Ellis
John Ellis
3 months ago

Is it the end of the road for Andrew RT Davies as leader of the Conservative Party in Wales?’

Hopefully! But who else out of the small motley bunch on the Tory benches could replace him? Mark Isherwood generally strikes me as a moderate and reasonable bloke, but would he have leadership ambitions?

And is he visceral enough to appeal to the sort of folk who, these days, are Conservative members and voters?!

westisbest
westisbest
3 months ago

I watched a lot of Mr Tumble, this daft racist is not fit to polish his very large shoes!

Fi yn unig
Fi yn unig
3 months ago
Reply to  westisbest

Polishing Mr Tumbles’ very large shoes is a job too big for him much like the job he has.

Ben Davies
Ben Davies
3 months ago

This man has caused so much damage and he’s not even in power! Can you imagine Wales run by RT? It would be Reds under the Beds all over again. A reactionary, feeble-minded blowhard. He lacks the ability to think deeply about anything or come up with anything remotely original. His party, with the exception of a couple, are happy to see him blunder on. They must be just as culpable for the tripe that he regurgitates. What a complete shower.

Llyn
Llyn
3 months ago

Here’s the thing, I hope I’m wrong, but articles and reporting by Nation.Cymru and furious responses by readers are unlikely to help move Andrew RT Davies from his post. To him and his supporters this media network is just part of the liberal media elite and as such can be ignored. What helped end Gething’s career is much less likely to have any impact on the career’s of right-wing Tories and those on the far-right. Come the next Senedd election I can guarantee that the Tory Party and Reform campaigns will have some financing from those with past criminal convictions… Read more »

Old Curmudgeon
Old Curmudgeon
3 months ago
Reply to  Llyn

I think that the difference between ARTD and VG is that VG as First Minister represented and spoke for the people of Wales. ARTD on the other hand is a man who thinks that he’s representing a sizeable percentage of the population but in reality he’s proving that empty vessels make the most noise. I feel the danger is that if he is not put in his place he may encourage others to feel that such behaviour is acceptable.

Alun
Alun
3 months ago

If he gets the boot, they should take his gilet off him as punishment.

Jeff
Jeff
3 months ago

Most of his comments now seem in the same style as the daily wail or his go to news outlet, gb news. The whole letters thing smacked of an attempt at a “gotcha” for what ever inane reason that floats through his noggin, and I can only think of one reason that the subject is and given his “stop the boats” and supporting braverman schtick and getting the attention of Tommy ten names. Time will tell. The party wants to be like Davies then keep him, that is what you will be now in the Welsh Conservatives. No more than… Read more »

Y Cymro
Y Cymro
3 months ago

The question is asked if us. “Is this the end of Andrew RT Davies?” To be frank. Has their ever been a beginning. He is one of the most irrelevant ineffectual politicians Wales has ever suffered. Roll on 2026 when he and his gaggle of Welsh Tory ticks receive their P45s

Last edited 3 months ago by Y Cymro
GaryCymru
GaryCymru
3 months ago

Not so much a “has been” but more of a “definitely never ever will be”.
Perhaps now is the time to join the rest of the embarrassing failures on GB news.

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