Latest news with #WelshTories
Telegraph
08-07-2025
- Politics
- Telegraph
Why has a former Tory cabinet minister just defected to Reform?
The Welsh Tories are in a sorry old state. After being obliterated at Westminster last July, they face devastation in Cardiff Bay next May. Down to just 10 per cent in the polls, the Conservatives face being reduced to a rump of six seats in the expanded 96-strong Senedd. Party membership is now less than 3,500. Darren Millar, its leader in the Welsh parliament, has proved unable to stop the rot since taking over in December. 'It's the brand, not the leader', argues one Tory. The decision of David Jones to defect is the latest symptom of that malaise. After 50 years as a card-carrying Conservative, the former Welsh Secretary now says that 'Reform UK is the party that best represents my views'. The ex-MP cites the cost of living, illegal immigration and the 'erosion of our national sovereignty'. Pointedly, he notes 'I wrote to the party chairman in October to inform him of my intention not to renew my membership. I did not receive a reply'. That will resonate with many disgruntled activists. Critics will jibe that Jones is not the most high-profile of names. This was, as he himself admits, a defection long in the making. Yet it would be foolish to dismiss his decision to switch parties. Jones says he has no plans to stand for election. Instead, he will offer a useful source of advice as Reform tries to find 40 high-calibre Senedd candidates. His years of experience will aid the new party's development of a credible policy platform too. 'He will play a key role in the background', says an aide. 'Frankly, that was needed.' Jones' decision helps Reform in other ways too. The criticism of Nigel Farage has always been that he is unable to build an effective team around him. With 16,000 members now, those within the Welsh party argue that this is clearly no longer the case. Jones' decision will be taken as a green light by other Tory waverers, with future defections already in the works. He will likely play a role in future broadcast commitments, helping to share the burdens of leadership and prove that Reform is not a one-man band. Farage is expected to make more barnstorming visits to Wales over the coming months. But members of his team are now looking to 'spread the magic' of the limelight to others over the next 12 months. In England, that will probably be Zia Yusuf and potentially, Lee Anderson, to highlight his journey from the pit to parliament. But in Wales, Jones, as Reform's most senior defector to date, is likely to fill that gap. The key for Reform will be learning from the mistakes of the Welsh Conservatives. Thus far, the party has stressed its broad base, peeling off Plaid supporters in the West and Labour voters in the south valleys. If they can avoid the splits on devolution that have riven the Tories, Reform UK will be well placed to win 30 seats come next May.
Wales Online
24-05-2025
- Business
- Wales Online
Wales tourism tax timeline as proposals for changes get voted on
Our community members are treated to special offers, promotions and adverts from us and our partners. You can check out at any time. More info Senedd members have been debating amendments to the Wales tourism tax - with a number of proposals shot down. If the bill completes its passage through the Welsh Parliament, £1.30 a person before VAT could be charged on overnight stays in hotels, B&Bs and self-catering accommodation. A lower rate of 80p would apply to hostels and campsites. The 22 Welsh councils would be given the powers to decide whether to introduce a local levy from 2027 at the earliest. The Welsh Tories wanted a 10-night cap on the levy as well as exemptions for educational trips, charities, members of the armed forces and veterans. They also wanted to exempt yachts and other boats from plans for a £1.30 a night visitor levy in the future. All these were voted down by members. A Plaid Cymru amendment to exempt all under 16s was also defeated. But Senedd members were able to agree other amendments, including an exemption for under 18s from the lower rate. Join the North Wales Live Whatsapp community now Sam Rowlands, the Tory shadow finance secretary, introduced an amendment to the tourism tax bill to remove powers for ministers to extend the levy to berths and moorings in future. He argued extending the bill to marinas would be unnecessarily complicated and burdensome, adding that boating is a leisure and sporting activity. He said: 'To be clear, those that provide berths and moorings are not providing visitor accommodation in any real sense. By their nature, those vessels… move around.' Mr Rowlands told Senedd members: 'It's quite clear that boaters have a minimal… impact on local services because they are self-contained within the berth or mooring area.' But Senedd members voted 3-1 against the Conservative's proposal as the finance committee considered nearly 160 amendments to the bill. Mike Hedges, who represents Swansea East, said: 'As I tell people quite regularly, we've got a marina there and I can tell you now – when people come in by boat into that marina, they don't stay in the marina… they go into the city centre and they use the services there.' Mr Hedges said: 'The council taxpayer of Swansea is covering those costs,' as he argued marinas should have been included in the bill from the outset. His Labour colleague Mark Drakeford agreed: 'It is right that [for] a yacht arriving at Swansea or Cardiff marina… the yacht owner should pay the levy just as somebody staying in a nearby hotel or the Cardiff council campsite in Pontcanna will be.' The first minister-turned-finance secretary said: 'I can see no case in principle why those visiting in boats and yachts should find themselves not captured by the levy.' Prof Drakeford explained: 'The bill, as the [Welsh] Government presents it, doesn't have a worked-up scheme for berths and moorings as Mike Hedges would have wished. But the complexity of it is real and was beyond our ability to resolve all that complexity in the bill itself. So, what the bill provides is a power to return to this issue in future when some of those practical challenges can have been more fully discussed.' Mr Rowlands responded: 'It does feel like an afterthought… for me, without the proper revision and understanding of this in the first instance, it shouldn't be in here at all.' Prof Drakeford described the Welsh Government's approach as more progressive and targeted, removing a large proportion of educational stays from the levy. He said: 'If you're going to narrow the [tax] base, the only way to compensate in terms of revenue... is by raising the levy charge on those who remain within the scope.' Members voted to raise the lower and higher rates by 5p to 80p and £1.30 respectively. The bill now moves to the third step: consideration of amendments by the whole Senedd: before a crunch vote on the final version at stage four. Sign up for the North Wales Live newsletter sent twice daily to your inbox Find out what's happening near you
North Wales Live
24-05-2025
- Business
- North Wales Live
Wales tourism tax timeline as proposals for changes get voted on
Senedd members have been debating amendments to the Wales tourism tax - with a number of proposals shot down. If the bill completes its passage through the Welsh Parliament, £1.30 a person before VAT could be charged on overnight stays in hotels, B&Bs and self-catering accommodation. A lower rate of 80p would apply to hostels and campsites. The 22 Welsh councils would be given the powers to decide whether to introduce a local levy from 2027 at the earliest. The Welsh Tories wanted a 10-night cap on the levy as well as exemptions for educational trips, charities, members of the armed forces and veterans. They also wanted to exempt yachts and other boats from plans for a £1.30 a night visitor levy in the future. All these were voted down by members. A Plaid Cymru amendment to exempt all under 16s was also defeated. But Senedd members were able to agree other amendments, including an exemption for under 18s from the lower rate. Join the North Wales Live Whatsapp community now Sam Rowlands, the Tory shadow finance secretary, introduced an amendment to the tourism tax bill to remove powers for ministers to extend the levy to berths and moorings in future. He argued extending the bill to marinas would be unnecessarily complicated and burdensome, adding that boating is a leisure and sporting activity. He said: 'To be clear, those that provide berths and moorings are not providing visitor accommodation in any real sense. By their nature, those vessels… move around.' Mr Rowlands told Senedd members: 'It's quite clear that boaters have a minimal… impact on local services because they are self-contained within the berth or mooring area.' But Senedd members voted 3-1 against the Conservative's proposal as the finance committee considered nearly 160 amendments to the bill. Mike Hedges, who represents Swansea East, said: 'As I tell people quite regularly, we've got a marina there and I can tell you now – when people come in by boat into that marina, they don't stay in the marina… they go into the city centre and they use the services there.' Mr Hedges said: 'The council taxpayer of Swansea is covering those costs,' as he argued marinas should have been included in the bill from the outset. His Labour colleague Mark Drakeford agreed: 'It is right that [for] a yacht arriving at Swansea or Cardiff marina… the yacht owner should pay the levy just as somebody staying in a nearby hotel or the Cardiff council campsite in Pontcanna will be.' The first minister-turned-finance secretary said: 'I can see no case in principle why those visiting in boats and yachts should find themselves not captured by the levy.' Prof Drakeford explained: 'The bill, as the [Welsh] Government presents it, doesn't have a worked-up scheme for berths and moorings as Mike Hedges would have wished. But the complexity of it is real and was beyond our ability to resolve all that complexity in the bill itself. So, what the bill provides is a power to return to this issue in future when some of those practical challenges can have been more fully discussed.' Mr Rowlands responded: 'It does feel like an afterthought… for me, without the proper revision and understanding of this in the first instance, it shouldn't be in here at all.' Prof Drakeford described the Welsh Government's approach as more progressive and targeted, removing a large proportion of educational stays from the levy. He said: 'If you're going to narrow the [tax] base, the only way to compensate in terms of revenue... is by raising the levy charge on those who remain within the scope.' Members voted to raise the lower and higher rates by 5p to 80p and £1.30 respectively. The bill now moves to the third step: consideration of amendments by the whole Senedd: before a crunch vote on the final version at stage four.
BBC News
16-05-2025
- Politics
- BBC News
Welsh Tory leader fails to rule out working with Reform or Plaid
The leader of the Welsh Tories in the Senedd has said he will work with "anybody" to get Labour out of power in Cardiff on BBC Radio Wales Breakfast, Darren Millar gave the same answer when asked if he would work with Reform or Plaid Cymru, failing to rule out co-operating with described his party as a "government in waiting" ahead of the next Senedd vote in May party has been polling in fourth place behind Labour, Reform UK and Plaid Cymru, and lost all of its MPs in Wales at the last general election. On current projections it is likely that no party will win a majority and will need to make arrangements with others to govern. Working with either Reform or Plaid Cymru would be likely to be controversial internally within the Conservatives - particularly over Plaid's pro-independence Millar told the programme: "I'm prepared to work with anybody to get rid of this failing Labour government."I've said it many times, and that is what I'm determined to do, because it's in the national interest."Asked to clarify if that was his answer to working with Reform, he repeated the point: "I will work with anybody to get rid of this dreadful Welsh Labour government. I'll say no more than that."Pushed on what his position was on working with Plaid Cymru, he made the same argument: "I'll work with anybody to get rid of this failing Labour government."It's perfectly possible for parties with very different views to develop an agenda for government that they can agree on ."The new Senedd arrangements with the new voting system mean that no single party will have an overall majority."But I'm determined to be in the driving seat so that we can deliver a Conservative agenda that will transform Wales and make it better."Devolution, at the moment, for most people has failed them, because it's been run by a Labour government for such a long time."Millar was speaking at the start of the party's conference in Llangollen. On Saturday morning the party launched a number of policies including a promise to bring down waits for NHS treatment to no more than a year, and reinstating home economics to schools."We have set out a raft of policies. That's because we're a party which is a government in waiting," Millar told Radio Wales comes amid a row among party grassroots members who say Tories who dislike devolution are effectively barred from being Farage has said that Reform UK would be willing to work with any other party to form a government in UK's Conservative leader has herself refused to be drawn on any post-electoral pacts with Farage's party in the Senedd."I have ruled out a pact with Nigel Farage in the Westminster parliament," she said.
Powys County Times
16-05-2025
- Business
- Powys County Times
Welsh Tories in vow to introduce winter fuel payment, if elected
The Conservatives will introduce a Welsh winter fuel payment if they win the next Senedd election, the party leader is to announce. Welsh Tories will meet in Llangollen on Friday for their annual party conference, with Darren Millar promising the party will have the 'boldest' manifesto next year. During the two-day event, they will make several announcements, including pledging to introduce a Welsh winter fuel payment if they win the next Welsh Parliament election in May 2026. Winter fuel payments were previously given to all pensioners across the UK. However, last year, the UK Labour government restricted the payments to those qualifying for pension credits and other income-related benefits, as part of a bid to close a black hole in the nation's finances. The Welsh Conservatives will also pledge to cut the basic rate of income tax by 1p, fuelled through efficiency measures across government departments, while protecting health, schools and farming. All road projects will be 'unfrozen' and no new cycle lanes will be built until 'roads are fixed'. Mr Millar's party will also pledge to reverse the expansion of the Senedd, which is due to increase to 96 members from 60 after the election. The conference is one of the last chances for the party to get together before the election next year, and comes at a time when the Conservatives are struggling in the polls in Wales. A recent poll by YouGov put the Welsh Tories in fourth place on 13% at the next Senedd election, behind Plaid Cymru, Reform UK and Labour. Mr Millar MS said: 'The Welsh Conservative 2026 manifesto will be the boldest and most ambitious in our history. 'My team and I will present a comprehensive, fully-funded set of policy commitments to fix Wales ahead of the Senedd election. 'The Welsh Conservatives are working tirelessly to hold Labour to account, while other parties like Plaid Cymru have routinely propped them up. 'We now stand ready to offer the only credible alternative Welsh government.'
