Andrew R. T. Davies

Andrew R. T. Davies AM
Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly for Wales
Incumbent
Assumed office 14 July 2011
Preceded by	Paul Davies
Leader of the Welsh Conservatives in the National Assembly
Incumbent
Assumed office 14 July 2011
Preceded by	Paul Davies
Shadow Minister for Education, Lifelong Learning and Skills
In office 16 June 2008 – 2009
Leader	Nick Bourne
Preceded by	Alun Cairns
Shadow Minister for Transport
In office 11 July 2007 – 16 June 2008
Leader	Nick Bourne
Preceded by	New post
Succeeded by	David Melding
Member of the Welsh Assembly for South Wales Central
Incumbent
Assumed office 3 May 2007
Preceded by	Jonathan Morgan
Personal details
Born	1968 (age 42–43) Newbridge-on-Wye, Radnorshire
Political party	Conservative

Andrew Robert Tudor Davies (born 1968) is a British farmer and politician, who has been a Conservative Party member of the National Assembly for Wales since May 2007. He was elected leader of the Welsh Conservatives on 14 July 2011.^[1]

Background

Davies was born in Cowbridge, Vale of Glamorgan son of Margaret and Tudor Davies and educated at Llanfair Primary School, St Johns Porthcawl and later boarded at Wycliffe, Gloucester. He is married with four children. His background is in the business community, and works as a farmer, being a partner in the family farming business based in St Hilary near Cowbridge in the Vale of Glamorgan. Davies is a Welsh delegate on the Council of the National Farmers Union (NFU); Vice president of the local Young Farmers Club; and is Chairman of Creative Communities, which seeks to develop structural community development. Davies is also a life governor of the Royal Welsh Agricultural Society, and was the Society’s Oxford Scholar in 2002. He also is a governor at Llanfair Primary School.

Political career

Joining the Conservative Party in 1997, Davies fought Cardiff West in the 2001 general election, and Brecon and Radnorshire in 2005. He has served as Deputy Chairman (Political) for the Conservative Party in South Wales Central 2002-03, a region that comprises Cardiff, Rhondda Cynon Taff and the Vale of Glamorgan; and Cardiff West Conservative Association 2004-05. In March 2006 he was chosen to be the second on the Conservative Party's list for the 2007 election. Following a 5.2% swing from Labour to Conservative across the region, the Conservative party secured two seats and Davies was therefore elected. Davies' political interests include education, health and rural affairs.

In the Third Assembly he was appointed Shadow Minister for Transport in the National Assembly for Wales from 7 July 2007 to 16 June 2008, and Shadow Minister for Education, Lifelong Learning and Skills from 16 June 2008. He also sits on the Assembly’s Petitions Committee, which reviews petitions from members of the public, as well as sitting on the Subordinate Legislation Committee. In 2009 he became the Shadow Minister for Health in the National Assembly for Wales. He has also won an award for being "assembly member to watch" in December 2008. He was elected as leader of the Welsh Conservative group on the 14th July 2011, having won 53.1% of the vote.

References

External links

• Official website of Andrew R. T. Davies AM
• Biography on the National Assembly for Wales website.
• Conservative Party candidates profile, 2005 general election.

Offices held