Since 2007 Nick Ramsay has represented Monmouth in the National Assembly for Wales, where he is currently a candidate to lead the Conservative group. Earlier in the week, his opponent, Andrew RT Davies, set out his stall for ConHome readers here.
The Welsh Conservatives are now the second party in the Assembly for the first time. I think Nick Bourne has played a significant part in helping the group earn such a reputation. The way in which he guided the party through the early days of devolution and made the Welsh Conservative Party relevant to a bilingual Wales was critical to our party’s success.
But let me be clear: This is not a contest for party leader in Wales - no such post exists and I do not support the creation of such a role. David Cameron is our party leader.
This is a vacancy for the leader of the Welsh Conservative group in the Assembly and I want to explain here why I am putting myself forward for the job.
First, I can appeal to the whole of Wales. My values are Conservative values, but my politics are firmly at the centre of Welsh Conservatism. I am here to oppose Labour where appropriate - not in a gratuitous sense. However, to sit back and jeer from the side-line will not improve public policy. Opposition parties need to behave as alternative governments as well as opposing.
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