This is not an easy time for the Welsh Conservatives. The latest polls put them on the verge of electoral oblivion in a general election, haemorrhaging voters to Labour and Reform with tiny amounts of those aged 25-49 in Wales planning to vote Tory.
The party in Wales has also faced recent criticism that it ignored accusations of MS Janet Finch-Saunders mistreating her staff. I sat down with Welsh Tory leader Andrew RT Davies to address these issues, as well as his support of Liz Truss and Brexit, and whether he really writes his own tweets.
WalesOnline: A YouGov poll for WalesOnline suggests the Conservatives would likely return just two general election seats in Wales. Why do you think there has been such a fall in support?
Andrew RT Davies: Well, let's be honest, we haven't had the best six to eight months. Since last summer it's been challenging for the Conservative brand at the UK level. The current Prime Minister is steadying the ship. As we sit here this morning there's talk of a new announcement on the Northern Ireland protocol. The economy is in far better health than many people expected it to be, job numbers are still good. But we as a party have got to get back to the day job of wanting to be in government, of wanting to actually deliver for people who put our politicians on those green benches in Westminster. I believe we have a cracking slate of candidates building up slowly now ready for the general election in 2024. But also a great slate of incumbent MPs who've done tremendous work for their own constituencies the length and breadth of Wales. Because, don't forget, after 2019 we returned a record number of MPs, — our best, I think, since 1983.
What would success look like in Wales at the next general election?
Being a major part in delivering a majority Conservative government. We know we're going to have a new landscape to vote on come the general election in 2024 because of the seat reorganisation that is going to take place. Wales is going down from 40 constituencies to 32 so it won't be representative of the 2019 election.
You were a vocal backer of Liz Truss, praising her integrity and saying she would 'bring growth and opportunity'. Do you regret this support and do you owe people an apology given what's happened?
No, I don't regret backing Liz Truss because, at the end of the day, decisions were taken when they got into government that actually didn't prove to be beneficial and so changes had to be made at the end of October. Those changes were made, the ship was steadied and, actually, we've averted the recession that everyone was predicting. Employment numbers are still good and strong. What we've got to do is build on those employment numbers, build on the steady financial hand that Jeremy Hunt has on the tiller, and make sure we go forward and strengthen the Conservative principles that deliver an economy that delivers for everyone.
So no regrets at all about backing Liz Truss?
No, none at all.
Even after the interest rates rose and everyone's mortgages became more expensive based on her decisions?
At the end of the day, if you look where mortgages are at the moment, mortgage levels are attractive and we want to make sure we keep those mortgage levels down.
You're the leader of the opposition for what is essentially the poorest part of Britain. People are really struggling. But on Twitter your main priority has been trans people. Can you explain why?
I speak on many issues. One of these is obviously the gender recognition act that Mark Drakeford says he wants to bring to Wales. And so it is perfectly appropriate as leader of the opposition to address what the Welsh Government is doing. But I talk on a whole range of issues — the economy, health service, agriculture, education. On this particular issue, if that's the level of engagement people want on social media and it is responding and creating a debate, because obviously there's a national interest in this from a UK perspective, I'll engage with that.
Do you run your own Twitter account? Are you writing those tweets yourself?
Of course I do. I stand by my own Twitter account. I make sure I am fully engaged with my Twitter account. I don't think a single politician would do every single thing on their social media platforms. I think it'd be pretty impossible to do everything.
So you were happy with the tweet 'Roses are red, violets are blue, stop being woke, it's not good for you?'
Of course, because it went out on my Twitter account. Why wouldn't I be happy with that?
Well, at a time when people are really struggling with the cost of living crisis, people might think that's a strange priority to have.
Well, it was Valentine's Day. Sometimes you have to have a bit of humor. I know full well what the economy is doing at the moment. That's why I challenge the Labour ministers here in Cardiff Bay time and time again to make sure that they come forward with sensible economic policies. Sadly, over 20-odd years, they haven't done that. That's why a Welsh worker take home pay today is £3,100 less than a Scottish worker, despite them having parity in 1999. If you haven't got a sense of humor, then don't read my social media account.
Speaking of economic management, how do you think Brexit has gone for Wales?
Well, I think there are huge opportunities. 70-odd powers have been returned to this place, the Welsh parliament. I regret that the Welsh Government have chosen not to use those powers because I think there's huge opportunity for us. But regrettably, because the Welsh Labour ministers here took a remain position, it's not in their interest to make Brexit work or make Brexit succeed. Yes, there's been bumps in the road, I fully understand that. But from an agricultural point of view, if you look at the gains we've made in agricultural terms, when you look at exports of red meat, for example, only last year, red meat went up by 22% in value, or 9% in volume, and yet, we were told the export markets would decline and collapse. So, you know, there are benefits
But businesses across Wales have reported how much harder it is to trade internationally now, directly as a result of Brexit. Do you think that people were misled?
No, I don't think they were misled at all. I mean, in any walk of life there are difficulties. But there are also opportunities. You have to grasp the opportunities and solve the difficulties. And I fully accept that in some sectors there are those difficulties and that's why as politicians we need to work to make sure that we are working them out. But we also grasp the opportunities that are there for us as well. When you look at the workforce and workforce planning, in particular, in France, for example they've got labour shortages. In Germany, they've got labour shortages. In Italy they've got labour shortages. So across the continent of Europe, and indeed across the western world, there are labour shortages. But people trying to pin this on Brexit all the time is a false false narrative, which they're pushing to try and get a new EU Referendum Bill.
The UK has the lowest growth in the G7, are you saying that is in no way down Brexit?
Well it had the highest growth last year.
Wales has the lowest growth in the G7 and leading economic experts say that Brexit is a key reason for that.
I disagree with that.
You disagree with the leading economists?
I disagree with that. I think we make our own opportunities in life. Last year we were leading the pack when it comes to the G7. Sadly, there are swings and roundabouts in economic performance, I accept that fully. And what we've got to do when you do get indicators that show things aren't going right is put solutions in place to make sure the economy can grow, can prosper and can create those quality jobs that I just talked about.
Has there been any negative from Brexit from your point of view? Has it all been positive?
I've said, there have been bumps in the road and we have to iron those out as policy-makers. But where there are opportunities, we have to grasp those opportunities. What I see down here in Cardiff Bay is a government that campaigned and wanted to remain in the EU. And so they don't see any advantage in trying to reach for those opportunities
One of your MSs, Janet Finch Saunders, was accused of bullying behaviour by several of her former staff. Have you investigated this?
I have not had any official or unofficial representations made to me about what you've just said to me. I take the welfare of our staff very, very seriously. As do all my MSs. As individual MSs we employ staff as individuals and then obviously from the leader's point of view, I employ the group office. I know this sounds very technical but that's the way that place is structured. In the absence of any official complaint is difficult to investigate anything.
People who raised this issue and spoke to WalesOnline said it was very well-known within the Conservative group.
I'm telling you I've had no official recognition of this come across my desk. No complaints officially made to me, or unofficially, no one's come into my office as leader and said 'look, I've got an issue with MS A, MS B or MS C. In fact, I get quite a few people coming in and saying how much they enjoy working on the floor and how much they enjoy working for the Conservative group. And we're focused on making sure that we have the best terms and conditions we possibly can for our staff. You can keep asking the questions as many times as you want, but I've given you my answer.
One of the ways Wales could improve a lot would be through improving our rail network but obviously Wales is missing out on a lot of HS2 funding, which would likely work out about £5 billion. Do you reiterate your call for the UK Government to give Wales its fair share?
I do believe that we should be having our fair share of HS2 monies. I continue to make the case to colleagues in Westminster. I appreciate in the difficult climate that we're in at the moment that's a difficult task, but I'll continue to make that case along with fellow Welsh Conservative MSs.
Why do you think Wales didn't receive it first?
I genuninely do not know, I wasn't involved in those discussions. But that doesn't mean that we shouldn't continue to make the case and I think it's a powerful case that we'll be able to make.
Who have you made the case to?
To the Prime Minister and the two previous Prime Ministers, to the transport secretary, to various secretaries of state to Wales and to the chancellor.
And how do they respond?
Obviously in listening mode and wanting to take those ideas on, but aware of the backdrop of the complexities of public finances at the moment and the challenges of demands on that public finance.
If you were to take power now in Wales, given the myriad of problems that Wales is facing, what would you do differently?
I'd want to be seen as an enabling First Minister, and enabling Welsh Government. At the moment, there's so much rhetoric that goes on in this building here and Cathays Park and it doesn't break out into the communities that make up the great country of Wales. And what we've got to do is get an economy that creates wealth and generates quality jobs. We know that since the start of devolution wages have gone backwards in Wales in relative terms compared to other parts of the United Kingdom. We've got to change that by invigorating our education system, because through education you give empowerment to people and obviously they can command better salaries in the marketplace Also investing in infrastructure that is needed across Wales to create a 21st century economy, which is vital, green infrastructure in particular, but transport infrastructure importantly, because at the moment, there's such a huge disconnect between north Wales, mid Wales and south Wales, and making sure that people feel that Wales works for them, rather than works with some vested interests. Because for example, if you're in the health system at the moment, whether you work in it or you require it, it doesn't feel as if it's working for you.
Phrases like 'Wales working for you' are quite vague. Is there a thing you would hang your hat on?
Bear in mind we're only two years into a five-year term. I'd love to be the First Minister after the 2021 election. But sadly, the people of Wales didn't vote that way although we had a great intake of new Conservative MSs. We're in the process of developing a program for government that, come the 2026 election, we will offer to the people of Wales. I want that to be an enabling program for government so that people feel that when they look at the Welsh Conservatives, if it's a house that they want, a roof over their heads, the Conservatives have the answers for them there. If it's taking your children to school or going to university or college, the Conservatives have the answer to empower the education system or create that dynamic, vibrant economy that creates quality jobs with decent wages. And above all, gets the public services working on behalf of you, the citizen, rather than some oblique organisations located or headquartered a long way from home.
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