Is the Conservative Party Losing Its Roots? Welsh Tory Paul Davies Speaks Out

According to Paul Davies, the deputy leader of the Conservative group in the Senedd, the party has lost touch with some of its core supporters. Reflecting on recent defections to Reform UK by former members like Laura Ann Jones and David Jones, he expressed confusion over their decisions, suggesting that these individuals turned their backs on the party because it was not conservative enough. Davies emphasized that the party leader in the Senedd, Darren Millar, has mandated that every policy presented must align with traditional Conservative values.

Davies notes the sentiments shared by Jones, who described the Conservative party as “unrecognizable” and unlike the one she joined decades ago. He criticized Reform UK as a protest party lacking coherent solutions, asserting that their policies lean towards socialism, contradictory to Conservative ideals. Despite admitting that the party has indeed distanced itself from ordinary supporters over time, which he deemed “unfortunate”, Davies believes there is still a path forward for the Conservatives.

Currently, the Conservatives stand as the main opposition in the Senedd, yet recent opinion polls indicate they rank fourth behind Plaid Cymru, Reform, and Labour. Acknowledging a challenging road ahead, Davies asserts that the party has a real plan to rejuvenate Wales, criticizing the Labour government for a failing health service. Looking ahead to future elections, he indicated an openness to collaboration with Reform to collectively displace the Labour leadership in Wales, suggesting the Conservatives are ready to forge alliances to champion their agenda.