Andrew R.T. Davies Leader Or Spokesman?

Is it just me or is there a hint of suggestion in the Wasting Mule that the Conservative Assembly leader Andrew RT Davies has suggested the time may be nearing when the Wales Office should be scrapped is as a result of fit of pique.

The Mule says  .

In an interview with ITV Wales, the South Wales Central AM said: 

“I think as we go forward there is a debate to be had as to do we need all the offices of state?

“As a Conservative, I’m a big believer in small government and we shouldn’t have institutions [or] offices staying in place for the sake of it. That’s a discussion and debate to be had further down the road and ultimately I’m comfortable with having that debate and the consideration has been put out there, an office of the countries and regions of the United Kingdom would be a sensible proposition to consider.”

Which lets face it is a reasonable argument.Though perhaps there are still not enough powers devolved to the Assembly (in contrast to Scotland and Northern Ireland) for it to happen yet.

Andrew R.t.Davies little more than a spokesman?

And the Mule manages to find that elusive creature  " a senior party source" to  dismiss the suggestion, saying: “It’s not happening. Party policy is to have proper representation of the UK.”

But there a hint in the Mule that the real reason that Andrew RT Davies  wants the Welsh Office scrapped is that he was almost ignored at the Tory Party Conference.

For as the Mule points out the BBC reported claims that negotiations as to whether Mr Davies and Welsh Secretary David Jones would both appear on stage at a conference event this morning went “unbelievably went close to the top of the party”.

A "party source" ( maybe the same one as above ) claimed that the Welsh Secretary had intervened personally to ensure that Mr Davies had a speaking slot after an administrative “cock-up” meant that AM had not been slated to take part.

It would have been a incredible snub if Andrew  R.T. had been ignored 

The BBC story claimed that 

Before the conference commenced, Conservatives in Cardiff Bay had expected Mr Davies to participate and the official conference agenda described this morning's event as one in which “the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, the Minister for Scotland, Leader of the Welsh Conservatives and Leader of the Scottish Conservatives lead a discussion on the countries of the UK.”

In contrast, an online version stated that  “the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, the Minister for Scotland, and the Secretary of State for Wales” would take part.

Before the event, a Conservative insider expressed concern that if Mr Davies did not take part it could give the impression that “London is dictating to Cardiff”.

However, both men participated in the discussion about the future of the UK.

But it could well be that the Party still regard the Secretary of State (or Shadow when out of power) as the sole leader of the Tories here and that the party leader in the assembly carries very little weight. Little more than a spokesman in reality.

Indeed it may be that we can we can judge how the London Parties regard devolution in Wales by the prominence of the leader of the party at their annual conference .

Very little it seems from the last three weeks  In Glasgow,Brighton and Manchester it appears.