Andrew RT Davies’ speech to Welsh Conservative Conference

Just over 12 months ago – when we last gathered for our annual conference – we were gearing up towards the local government elections.

 

We went into those elections with optimism – looking to make gains across Wales.

 

We had a record 628 candidates standing for the Welsh Conservatives and we had high hopes of gaining a majority in Monmouthshire, making gains in Powys, while increasing our base in North Wales.

 

And thanks to your hard work – and the work of our fantastic councillors and candidates across Wales – we did that.

 

And more.

 

We have now have overall control of Monmouthshire – with a council led brilliantly by Peter Fox and his team.

 

In my own area of the Vale of Glamorgan – we made huge gains too, doubling our seats and we now have an excellent council leader in my good friend John Thomas.

 

And across much of Wales – the picture is the same.

 

Conservatives now form part of the administration in Conwy, Denbighshire, Wrexham and Powys.

 

We’re now the official opposition on Cardiff Council and many other local authorities across Wales – while we also made inroads into Labour’s strongest heartlands.

 

In Rhondda Cynon Taf – the South Wales Valleys – we quadrupled our representation.

 

And in Carwyn Jones’ own backyard in Bridgend, we secured an incredible increase in councillor representation and now boast a proud 50:50 balance between male and female councillors.

 

It just goes to show that when we get it right, the Welsh Conservatives are the true Party of Wales.

 

Of course the general election produced a mixed picture, with a record vote share across Wales but a disappointing evening in which we lost 3 valued colleagues.

 

However, we’re delighted to see two of those individuals – Byron Davies and Craig Williams – now leading the charge in the voluntary and professional sides of the party, while James continues to campaign on issues such as the NHS in North Wales.

 

It’s good to see we’re equipping our team at HQ with the resource and tools ready to fight on all fronts and deliver success in all four corners of the country.

 

A huge debt of thanks must go to our dedicated team at CCHQ.

 

And at Westminster under our dedicated and hardworking Prime Minister, Theresa May, we’ve delivered an £100m pound boost to the Welsh economy with our pledge to abolish the Severn Bridge tolls – meaning motorists will no longer have to pay to enter Wales.

 

Leading the charge on the Bridge has been Alun Cairns, who is ensuring Wales is well and truly open for business whilst also making sure it just became free to enter the best part of the UK!

 

And in the very county we’re in today, Carmarthenshire, I’m delighted to see it will play host to S4C, with the nearby City Deal contributing to the channel’s new home, spreading wealth and creating the opportunities rural Wales needs to thrive.

 

This deal will provide S4C, the Welsh Language and our creative industry with a solid long-term footing and ensures such headquarters branch out of the traditional South Wales bubble.

 

In Cardiff Bay, my hardworking team of Assembly Members, continue to shine a light on Labour’s two decades of failure.

 

But more than that, even from a position of opposition, Welsh Conservatives are making a positive difference to Welsh communities.

 

My deputy Paul Davies is currently developing an Autism Bill which he hopes to take through the National Assembly – something we promised in our 2016 manifesto, which if successful, will guarantee children and adults with autism in Wales the support they need.

 

Over the past twelve months we’ve also led the fight against Labour’s plans for a Tourism Tax – which would’ve been an unmitigated disaster for businesses in Wales.

 

My thanks go to the tireless work of my great team of Assembly Members which saw the plans scrapped.

 

There you have it – clear examples of Welsh Conservatives delivering for Wales – at both ends of the M4.

 

TRAGEDY

 

Meanwhile, the Welsh Labour Government has been in a state of turmoil.

 

It’s undoubtedly been a difficult period in Welsh politics – and first and foremost I’d like to wish Plaid Cymru’s Steffan Lewis the very best in his battle against bowel cancer.

 

This is a truly wicked disease which we all need to re-double our efforts in fighting.

 

And of course, our politics was shaken to the core by the tragic passing in November of a good man – Carl Sargeant.

 

Carl and I may have come from the opposite sides of the political divide – but in many ways we were cut from the same cloth.

 

Rather than taking the university route we earned our stripes in industry – Carl on the factory floor and me on the farm yard.

 

Carl was Labour through and through – but despite our political differences I always had the utmost respect for him.

 

He stood up for what he believed in, with every fibre of his being.

 

Sadly, over the past few months we’ve learned that at the heart of Welsh Government there is something rotten.

 

After two decades in power, the Labour Party in Wales has become arrogant, complacent, and out of touch.

 

Treating Wales and our people as their fiefdom – and taking the country for granted.

 

A government that has lost its heart and preaches to the many but only delivers for the few.

 

A government that has abolished the right to own your home by scrapping the empowering Right to Buy scheme and the bizarre decisions to scrap the school uniform grant and independent living grant.

 

A government that is hell-bent on tearing apart health services in this very area that we are meeting in today, closing local hospitals and using private information to smear and damage political opponents, include some of my very own colleagues.

 

Conference, these are the actions of a complacent and poisonous government — a government that has lost its caring touch, and become too used to power. 

 

And it’s this complacent government that we need to change in Wales.

 

For too long Wales’ comfort zone has been to accept the Labour Party’s managed decline of our economy, culture and public services.

 

BREXIT

 

As someone who campaigned for Brexit, I can tell you that I firmly believe that it provides us with the perfect opportunity to do things differently here in Wales – to change course.

 

Thanks to the hard work of our Prime Minister, three quarters of the terms of our departure from the European Union are locked down.

 

Sadly, the governing establishment in Wales seems intent on fighting a battle which they lost nearly two years ago.

 

I’ve long tired of the talk of power grabs and bogus continuity bills in our Parliament and I’ve lost count of the weeks we’ve wasted debating the constitution while our schools, NHS and economy remain the weakest in the UK.

 

And as the United Kingdom prepares to leave the European Union we must ensure that Wales is well placed to take advantage of new trading relationships with the wider world.

 

To sail Wales through these new and uncharted territories we need bold, effective and competent government coupled together with a raft of fresh new ideas.

 

However, instead of preparing positively and ensuring our country is ready to capitalise on some of the opportunities presented by leaving the European Union, Wales is being forced to look backwards.

 

Where the UK Conservative Government and Michael Gove race ahead in the fields of animal welfare and the environment, Wales is playing catch-up.

 

Conference, why shouldn’t Wales be the most animal friendly nation in the World?

 

Why shouldn’t Wales lead the way when it comes to banning single-use plastics?

 

Because Conference, in Wales we have a Labour government which is sadly asleep at the wheel.

 

Successive governments in Cardiff Bay have failed to lift prosperity in Wales through a combination of incompetence and inertia.

 

Welsh communities have long been disenfranchised by our EU membership, but we now have an opportunity to craft schemes which benefit our own people and where we can be world-leaders.

 

What Wales desperately needs is new ideas.

 

It’s time for a bold vision which invests in our people, in our communities and in our country.

 

NEW IDEAS

 

And that is why Welsh Conservatives are setting to work on developing and outlining a raft of fresh ideas to deliver tangible and positive change across Wales.

 

On Monday we announced a new deal for our veterans’ community – proposals which would make a real difference for military personnel, veterans and their families – true heroes who deserve to be prioritised.

 

Yesterday, we also announced our exciting new plans to deliver towns and cities in Wales which are fit for the 21st century.

 

Our plan for urban renewal – brilliantly headed up by David Melding – tackles the challenges of making Wales’ towns and cities healthy and vibrant places to live and work.

 

Conference, our ambitions for Wales are limitless.

 

We want Wales’ biggest towns and cities to be carbon neutral by 2030 as we look to clean up the air in our children’s lungs.

 

We would pilot a city wide ban on plastics and would make us the most tree friendly nation in the world by introducing a Bill of Rights to prevent the continued deterioration in our green spaces.

 

And we will utilise the opportunities afforded to us under the UK Conservative Government’s plans for a ‘Shared Prosperity Fund’ which will allow us to do things differently here in Wales.

 

Because after nearly two decades of neglect, a Welsh Conservative-led Government would prioritise investment in our creaking infrastructure right across Wales.

 

We need to see a positive vision for our transport network that tackles the congestion which blights our economy – from investment in our roads to cycle paths and public transport.

 

We want to see the creation of a Roads to Prosperity Fund which will deliver the much needed improvements our communities and businesses are desperate to see on roads such as the A40, A55 and M4.

 

We would also establish a Technology Infrastructure Fund to deliver comprehensive Wi-Fi cities, while also easing the constraints preventing the development of first-class digital infrastructure for our rural communities.

 

A Welsh Conservative-led administration would also introduce a new travel scheme for young people to help them on their career journey, a green card for young people which will also support the sustainability of local bus services.

 

And to assist and enhance with the development of policy in this key area, I’m delighted to announce that we will establish a youth cabinet to work with my colleagues in the Assembly to ensure our next generations are at the heart of our future proposals.

 

Working with our excellent young councillors and stakeholder groups, we’ll appoint 12 young people to help shape the future policies of the Welsh Conservatives.

 

CHANGE WALES

 

We need a 21^st century government planning for tomorrow’s challenges and opportunities, not fighting yesterday’s battles.

 

Because it isn’t a lack of money or powers that’s holding Wales back — it’s Labour, and the Welsh Government’s lack of vision for the future.  

 

And by the time the country goes to the ballot box in the next Assembly election in 2021, Welsh Labour will have been in government in one guise or another for 23 years.

 

The current frontrunner to replace the outgoing First Minister has already stated he’s not going to change much in Wales.

 

A man who has been part of the Welsh Government in some shape or form for the past decade.

 

A man who has been at the forefront of disastrous education reforms, shambolic NHS reorganisations, and cuts of almost £1bn to the health budget – just a fraction of the disastrous legacy the outgoing First Minister leaves behind.

 

A new First Minister with no personal mandate to govern.

 

It’s quite simple Conference, Wales needs a change of government. Our country cannot thrive without it.

 

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It’s easy to forget politicians entered this life from all kinds of backgrounds.

 

I’m proud of my work in business and more so of my life so far as both a husband and father. 

 

But as an AM, I can honestly say that improving Wales’ fortunes is what gets me up in the morning — as I’m sure it is for many others in this room.

 

And seeing our country consistently lagging behind the rest should pain any proud Welshman or woman who wants more for their family.

 

Wales can do better and as politicians we can do better.

 

And let’s be clear; no party has a monopoly on good ideas.

 

Beyond our own Conservative benches, there are immensely talented individuals with whom, looking ahead to the next Assembly elections, I stand ready to work with to deliver the change in government Wales needs.

 

Wales isn’t Labour and Labour isn’t Wales.

 

And whilst not underestimating the challenge, there are only two roadblocks preventing us from unlocking progress and prosperity in Wales.

 

One is removing the Labour Party itself, and the other is those who acknowledge that Labour are the problem – but just can’t bring themselves to work with the “Tories” to do anything about it.

 

And conference, it’s all well and good talking about wanting change in Wales but if you haven’t got a route to get there, you’re simply shouting from the sidelines.

 

For us to deliver this agenda of change, we’ll need to put our national interest ahead of our own parties.

 

We need the best and brightest in Wales working together, not against each other.

 

Wales is sitting on a goldmine of potential which Labour have consistently failed to exploit.

 

Our children and grandchildren deserve better as our country’s future prosperity can’t afford another lost two generations thanks to a couple decades more Labour incompetence. 

 

I’m a proud Welshman and I’m willing to make that change happen – a scenario which frees Wales from Labour rule.

 

It’s now up to others if they are willing to stand up and do the same.

 

It’s time for a New Deal for Wales – it’s time to Change Wales.

 

Conference, thank you.