Third Shadow Cabinet of Andrew RT Davies

Andrew RT Davies Shadow Cabinet
Shadow Cabinet of Wales
January 2021– May 2021
Date formed	24 January 2021
Date dissolved	29 March 2021
People and organisations
Monarch	Elizabeth II
Leader of the Opposition	Andrew RT Davies
Member party	Welsh Conservatives
Status in legislature	Official Opposition 11 / 60 (18%)
History
Legislature term	5th Senedd
Predecessor	Shadow Cabinet of Paul Davies
Successor	Fourth Shadow Cabinet of Andrew RT Davies

Andrew RT Davies became the Leader of the Opposition in Wales on the 24 January 2021 after the resignation of Paul Davies as leader the following day. On 29 March 2021, Nick Ramsay left the Welsh Conservative group, meaning it was no longer the largest party not in government in the Senedd, and therefore no longer the official opposition.

Background

Main article: 2021 Welsh Conservatives leadership election

Paul Davies was seen drinking with other politicians on the Senedd estate on 8 and 9 December 2020 that could have proven contrary to Welsh Government COVID alcohol ban that was brought in four days before. He apologised for his actions on the 19 January 2021 and the Conservative Group in the Senedd gave there unanimous support in a meeting on the 22 January for Paul Davies to stay as leader. The BBC reported that Paul Davies was considering stepping down in that meeting, and a report by the Senedd Commission said that it could be a possible breach of COVID rules. There was much uproar by grassroots supporters and senior members of the Welsh Conservatives of his actions and on 23 January Paul Davies stepped down with immediate effect.

There was a short discussion between Conservative Members of the Senedd the following day where they gave their unanimous support for Andrew R. T. Davies to become leader. He created a cabinet out of members left in the frontbench (Darren Miller, Nick Ramsey and Paul Davies had stepped down) on the same day. David Melding re-joined the cabinet after stepping down in September 2020 following disagreements with the parties Internal Market stance.

On 29 March 2021, Nick Ramsay left the Welsh Conservative group in the Senedd, to run as an independent for his Monmouth seat, having been deselected by his local party. This meant the Conservatives matched Plaid Cymru with 10 MSs, meaning there was no second largest party, and therefore no official opposition. Andrew RT Davies would form the next Shadow Cabinet after the 2021 Senedd Election, his fourth.

Members

Conservative Shadow Cabinet (as of 24 January 2021)

Portfolio	Name			Constituency	Term
Leader of the Opposition Leader of the Welsh Conservatives			Andrew RT Davies MS	South Wales Central	Jan 2021 – March 2021
Shadow Minister for Health and Social Services			Angela Burns MS	Carmarthen West and South Pembrokeshire	Jan 2021 – March 2021
Shadow Minister for Finance, North Wales and Chief Whip			Mark Isherwood MS	North Wales	Jan 2021 – March 2021
Shadow Minister for Economy, Transport and Mid Wales			Russell George MS	Montgomeryshire	Jan 2021 – March 2021
Shadow Minister for Environment, Energy and Rural Affairs			Janet Finch-Saunders MS	Aberconwy	Jan 2021 – March 2021
Shadow Minister for Mental Health, Wellbeing, Culture and Sport			David Melding MS	South Wales Central	Jan 2021 – March 2021
Shadow Minister for Education, Skills and the Welsh Language			Suzy Davies MS	South Wales West	Jan 2021 – March 2021
Shadow Minister for Housing and Local Government, Equalities, Children and Young People			Laura Anne Jones MS	South Wales East	Jan 2021 – March 2021

See also

• Drakeford government
• Members of the 5th Senedd