Andrew Davies AM: Let's take the fight to Labour in Wales

Andrew RT Davies is Leader of the Welsh Conservatives in the Welsh Assembly.  Follow Andrew on Twitter.

Welsh Conservatives are today gathering in Swansea for the Welsh party conference, a city where things are happening.

The recent electrification announcement was the biggest rail infrastructure investment in Wales in  150 years. Journey times to London’s Paddington Station will be cut by over 20 minutes and South Wales and the Valleys will have investment fit for the 21^st Century. A superb achievement by colleagues in Westminster.

Swansea is also a city in sporting celebration. Just a few weeks ago, Swansea City won the League Cup and continue to play in the highest league in the world. But as the party gathers in Swansea’s Liberty Stadium – the first party ever to do so – we meet at a time of great challenge for the party and for the country. Wales remains the poorest region of the UK. Our health and education systems continue to decline at the hands of a tired, lazy Labour Government who think they have a divine right to rule.

The challenges are there, the focus of the Welsh Conservatives must surely be to offer the alternative. Change is never an easy aspiration, but we are ready for the fight and we’re taking the fight to Labour. My conference speech is about families, it’s about a real plan for the Welsh economy and about a real challenge for our party.

Andrew RT Davies AM: Why I want to lead the Welsh Assembly Conservatives

Since 2007 Andrew RT Davies has represented South Wales Central in the National Assembly for Wales, where he is currently a candidate to lead the Conservative group. Later in the week, his opponent, Nick Ramsay AM, will set out his stall for ConHome readers.  

I have spent the last few weeks on the campaign trail meeting members across Wales and listening to them talk about the kind of Conservative group they want to see in the Assembly. Tomorrow I will be launching my campaign manifesto, Speaking From Experience, in which I set out the challenges ahead, both for the party and for Wales, and why I believe that I am the best candidate for the job.

The recent referendum on further powers for the National Assembly has brought with it greater responsibility. It is no longer acceptable for politicians in Wales to complain that they do not have the tools to do the job. We all have to accept our responsibility, roll up our sleeves and get on with the work we were elected to do.

We have to ensure that devolution delivers positive outcomes for the people of Wales, but as a passionate unionist I will never be afraid to offer constructive criticism where it fails. We sit squarely at the bottom of the UK table on key measures such as health, education and economic performance and this cannot be allowed to go on. I want to see a healthier and wealthier Wales within a stronger United Kingdom.