Do the Tories Have a Problem?

So because of a fixed electoral system due to Labour's fiddling, the Tories face a leadership race because they were successful and I must admit that I had no idea how big the splits were within their Assembly ranks. The two candidates Nick Ramsay and Andrew RT Davies have already taken sides with their respective AM groupings. How utterly bizarre.

I met Andrew RT Davies last week when covering the overnight election media and to be fair, he is is a very personable chap. He's chatty, cheerful and has a life outside politics which always puts opponents on edge and by all accounts, he has been working the constituency circuit in recent months since standing down from the Tory shadow Health post. Nick Ramsay has the advantage of holding a safe constituency seat so will not fall at the hurdle like Nick Bourne did. Furthermore, he is apparently on the pro-Welsh side of the party and therefore if it is to be believed, appeals to more voters from outside the traditional Tory comfort zone. However, I heard him on Radio Wales recently and when asked about David Melding's credentials as a Deputy Presiding Officer, he said, "Well, David does know a lot about devolution." hmmmmm.

If I know traditional Tory members, then I would say that Andrew Davies is a shoe-in for leader. This is however where the problem may lie for the Tories, as Andrew Davies is seen as a leader who would take the London rather than Welsh line if forced to take sides; something that Nick Bourne was very careful  to avoid. The Tories are very nervous about giving such a perception, noting that their party has taken a hammering in Scotland for not being 'Scottish enough'. As a Plaid member, shouldn't I take comfort in the trials and tribulations of Tories? Well to an extent yes, but not when a Labour party democratic fiddle has created problems as a result of electoral success. As a democrat, such situations leave me very uncomfortable.