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Theresa May rejects Welsh Assembly snap election call

Paul Davies says the next Welsh Labour leader and first minister will have no mandate to govern

A call for a new Welsh Assembly election by the Welsh Conservative assembly leader Paul Davies has been rejected by the prime minister.

Paul Davies said the next Welsh Labour leader - and first minister - would not have a mandate to govern when they are elected in December.

But UK Conservative leader Theresa May said the focus should be on Brexit.

Senior Welsh Tory sources have said Mr Davies's speech was approved by Downing Street.

Two thirds of AMs must vote in favour before a snap election can be held. The next assembly election is due to take place in 2021.

Three candidates - Mark Drakeford, Eluned Morgan and Vaughan Gething - are in the running for the Welsh Labour leadership to succeed Carwyn Jones.

Mr Davies, elected as the Tories' leader in Cardiff Bay last month, told the Tory party conference: "Whoever emerges as the next first minister, this much is clear.

"The people should have the opportunity to have their say. You will have no mandate to govern the people of Wales. Only an assembly election will give you that.

"So I'm calling on the wannabe leaders of the Welsh Labour Party to commit to give us that election.

"We Welsh Conservatives are ready for the fight for the future of our precious nation."

But speaking to ITV Wales, Ms May said: "I think at the moment we should be focussing on the issues around getting the right Brexit deal... that's where the national interest lies, not in snap elections."

Theresa May
Theresa May said the focus should be on Brexit and not snap elections

Mr Davies also told the Tory party conference in Birmingham that he is ready to work with Plaid Cymru when possible "to deliver the change Wales need".

In his speech, Mr Davies had a message for the new Plaid leader, Adam Price, who was elected last week.

"The people of Wales are crying out for a change of government in Cardiff Bay. Prop up another Labour administration at your peril," he said.

"We will never agree on everything, but where we can, let's work together in the interests of the people of Wales to deliver the change Wales needs."