Darren Millar became the new leader of the Conservative Party in the Welsh Parliament without a vote. His candidacy was supported by all party members in the Senedd, as well as potential rivals after the unexpected resignation of Andrew R. Т. Davis.
Andrew R. Т. Davis resigned after a confidence vote, which he won by a narrow margin. This was the culmination of several months of internal pressure on the party’s leadership due to dissatisfaction with the direction of its activities. In addition, there were calls to offer voters a clearer alternative to the policies of the current Labour Party in power in Wales.
Millar, who has many years of experience in politics, has declared his ambition to become the first Conservative First Minister of Wales in the 2026 elections. He emphasized that his mission is to rebuild the region and regain the trust of voters:
“Wales is broken and we will develop a real plan to rebuild it. Our proposals will be based on the principles of freedom of choice, personal responsibility and the desire for change.”
Millar also rejected suggestions that he is only a temporary compromise candidate:
“I have always followed my own path in politics and that is how I will continue to work. I am committed to the work in Senedd and my mission in Wales. “
One of the new leader’s key allies will be David T. S. Davies, former Secretary of State for Wales, who will serve as chief of staff.
Darren Millar will become Leader of the Opposition in the Senedd and will confront First Minister Elaind Morgan during weekly government question sessions. At the same time, he called on the Conservative Party at the national level to give more autonomy to the leader of the Welsh group, noting:
“The leader of the group in Senedd should be the de facto leader of the Conservatives in Wales.”