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Tories absent as former leader told off in Senedd

David Deans
Political reporter, BBC Wales News
Senedd Cymru A shot of empty chairs on one side of the Senedd, where the Conservatives are usually sat.Senedd Cymru
Tory benches were empty when the report on Andrew RT Davies was discussed

Welsh Conservatives have denied boycotting the Senedd's disciplinary process when they failed to attend a debate about their former leader.

Andrew RT Davies has been told off for failing to say he was a farmer when asking questions about inheritance tax.

Labour MS Lee Waters accused the party of mocking the Senedd's disciplinary process when none of the group of 16 attended the discussion.

All bar one of the Tories present in the Senedd on Tuesday later backed the standards committee's findings after Waters forced a vote.

A total of 54 of the Senedd's 60 politicians voted in favour, including Davies himself, with one abstention from Conservative MS Joel James. No one voted against.

Two Conservative MSs - including current leader Darren Millar - are currently in the US for a prayer meeting, which President Donald Trump is expected to attend.

Both missed a debate on the Welsh government budget on Tuesday.

The standards committee found Andrew RT Davies had breached the Senedd's code of conduct but recommended no further action.

It warned the MS for South Wales Central he will be punished more significantly if he breaks the parliament's rules again.

The committee said it had dealt with a "number of complaints" about Davies since the 2021 Senedd election.

The most recent incident happened in November, while Davies was still Tory leader.

He is a partner in a family farming business, but did not say he was before asking about the agricultural inheritance tax hike in the UK government's Budget.

Davies was reprimanded by the standards watchdog last year for calling Wales' 20mph law a "blanket" speed limit, and in January the Welsh Refugee Council said it was going to report Davies to the commissioner over social media comments.

Davies had told standards commissioner Douglas Bain it was "no secret that I am a farmer".

Andrew RT Davies stood outside the Senedd wearing a blue suit jacket, a light purple shirt and a blue tie.
Andrew RT Davies resigned as Welsh Conservative leader last year

The Senedd held a debate to endorse the findings of the report on Wednesday.

Llanelli MS Waters said he was "appalled that the Conservative benches are entirely empty this afternoon".

"We now have Andrew RT Davies being subject to a series of reports by the standards committee. Each time he does not attend the chamber to take the judgement of his peers.

"Today, all of his colleagues have joined him in boycotting this debate, and I think it does call into question the efficacy of the standards of conduct process in this chamber if the shaming and the process of reflection is being so wilfully ignored and mocked by the opposition party in this Senedd."

Normally standards reports are approved by the Senedd without a vote, but Waters forced one by objecting to the motion.

He told BBC Wales he wanted to "get them on the record".

A spokesman for the Welsh Conservatives denied the party had boycotted the debate.

He added that it was up to individual members if they want to attend a standards committee debate.