The report from the BBC that a Conservative AM whose signature got Suzy Davies into the Tory assembly leadership contest has backed her rival for the job. looks like a bit of silliness from the party at first,.
After all those in the bubble may have looked at the 2015 UK leadership contest for the Labour leadership contest when Labour MPs nominated Jeremy Corbyn even though they backed another candidate , only to see the party faithful decide they wanted a full blooded socialist not some pale imitation Blarite.
According to the BBC
David Melding said Paul Davies was "clearly the best candidate" to bring the party together.As Labour Wales face the problem of not having a Woman in the ballot paper, being the only party in the four leadership contests (Plaid.Tory,Labour and Ukip). they face embarrassment and a reaction from sections of the party.
Suzy Davies's nomination triggered a contest following the resignation of Andrew RT Davies.
She said she always knew Mr Melding was backing Paul Davies, who is the current interim leader.
Asked why Mr Melding had nominated Ms Davies, a party source said they believed Mr Melding felt it was in the party's best interests that a contest take place.
Ms Davies had been nominated by Brexiteer AMs Janet-Finch Saunders and Mark Isherwood as well as Mr Melding.
Mr Melding, a former deputy presiding officer, said: "Paul Davies is now clearly the best candidate who can bring the party together and ensure that MPs, AMs, councillors and activists work together to remove Labour from power.
"In Paul Davies, I see a future Welsh Conservative first minister with the passion and experience to lead our country.
"The Welsh Conservative team has some great ideas to change Wales, but it's only by getting Conservatives into government that we truly transform our country - that's why we need a strong experienced leader with a track record of winning elections."
Suzy Davies said: "I always knew this and I am very grateful to David for allowing our members to have a contest for leader."
Paul Davies had been nominated by five AMs - Angela Burns, Russell George, Nick Ramsay, Mohammad Asghar and Darren Millar.
Only one woman, Eluned Morgan, has announced a bid for the contest.
But she needs at least five AMs to nominate her before she can become a candidate, and none have.
Only Mark Drakeford, the finance secretary, has secured enough support to be guaranteed a place in the race, with 12 AMs backing him.
Vaughan Gething is in the running but is one AM short, with four backers. Huw Irranca-Davies also wants to stand, but like Ms Morgan has not secured the support he would need.
Labour have in the past made a big thing about increasing female representation in all areas of politics fail to get one nominated for the only legislature they control in these islands.
It comes to something when the Tories can ensure that there is nor only a contest but that there is a Woman on the ballot, Labour may not even have a contest at all and Mark Drayford receiving a coronation .
By all accounts he's popular. competent and on the left (though i have doubts of at least the last two.
We may not however get to find out what the members of that party actually think.
1 comment:
The uk labour party has never been led by a woman. The welsh labour party has never been led by a woman. Maybe there's a message for us there? It's certainly extraordinary that with women making up over half the population the so called 'peoples party' has never been led by a woman in wales or at westminster.
Post a Comment