The leader of the Welsh Conservatives has unexpectedly resigned amid criticism from within his party over his vocal pro-Brexit stance.
Political supporters and opponents suggested that Andrew RT Davies, who had been in the job for seven years, was squeezed out because of his uncompromising support for Brexit.
Davies’s deputy, Paul Davies – who is not related – has been appointed as interim leader and is in pole position to take the role permanently.
Andrew RT Davies, a farmer from south Wales, campaigned strongly two years ago for the UK to leave the EU, causing embarrassment to the then prime minister, David Cameron.
Last week he was highly critical of the warning by Airbus, a key employer in Wales, that it could cease manufacturing in the UK because of Brexit, dismissing the claim as “hyperbole”.
Guto Bebb, a senior Welsh Conservative MP and UK defence minister, condemned Davies for what he called “inflammatory” remarks over Airbus. Bebb also disputed Davies’s title as leader of the Welsh Conservatives, rather than its assembly group.
Davies risked further angering the national Conservative leadership when he expressed disappointment over the Westminster government’s decision not to back the Swansea tidal lagoon project this week.
In his resignation letter, Davies did not spell out why he was leaving but made it clear he was not happy.
The former Tory MP Mark Reckless, who sits with the Conservative group in the Welsh assembly, was among the first to claim Davies had been pushed out by remainers, tweting: “Awful that [Davies] has been pushed out for backing Brexit. Such a decent man.”
Awful that Welsh Conservative leader @AndrewRTDavies has been pushed out by Remainers for backing Brexit. Such a decent man
— Mark Reckless AM (@MarkReckless) June 27, 2018
Owen Smith, the Labour MP for Pontypridd and a spokesperson for the anti-Brexit group Best for Britain, argued Davies was the “first casualty in the Tory Brexit war”.
He said: “Mr Davies’s reckless dismissal of the legitimate concerns of Airbus, one of Wales’s most important employers, is the immediate cause of his forced resignation, but it speaks to deeper tensions in the Tory government.”
Both Labour and Ukip in Wales are also searching for new leaders. The Labour leader and first minister, Carwyn Jones, is stepping down and last month Neil Hamilton was ousted as leader of the Ukip group in the assembly.
Jones said of Davies: “Andrew has made his mark in Welsh politics, and his jovial and larger than life personality has always been a breath of fresh air during assembly proceedings.”
The prime minister, Theresa May, said: “Under Andrew’s leadership, the Welsh Conservatives have provided a strong opposition to Labour in Cardiff Bay and a strong voice for the people of Wales.
“I know he will continue to be a passionate champion for the people of South Wales Central and will continue to speak up for the best interests of Wales as we leave the European Union and forge a new role for the whole United Kingdom on the world stage.”
