Could new Tory leader help appoint figurehead in Wales?

The new Tory leader Kemi Badenoch is "open to calls" to make the Senedd group leader the Conservatives' official leader in Wales, a party chairman says

The new Tory leader is "open to calls" over who leads the Welsh Conservatives, the party's Senedd chairman has said.

Samuel Kurtz wrote to all candidates standing to succeed Rishi Sunak, asking them to back calls for making the Senedd group leader the party’s official leader in Wales.

Kemi Badenoch won the leadership contest of grassroots conservative membership with 57% of the vote, beating the current Conservative Senedd leader’s choice, Robert Jenrick.

But Mr Kurtz said the new leader "wants us as Senedd members involved in shaping the party going forward".

The leadership of the Conservative party in Wales is currently shared between the group leader in the Senedd, Andrew RT Davies, the chairman of the party in Wales, Tomos Dafydd Davies, and the shadow secretary of state for Wales, Lord Byron Davies.

But there has been a longstanding call from Conservative Senedd members for the leader in the Senedd to be the official figurehead for the party in Wales.

Mr Kurtz said he believed the new UK Conservative leader was listening to those calls.

Conservative MS Samuel Kurtz says he believes Kemi Badenoch is open to changes in the party's structure in Wales

"Kemi’s quite open to the calls I made as chair of the Welsh Conservative group in the Senedd about how the structure of the party looks in Wales and that accountability," he said.

"Those discussions will be ongoing now with Kemi as she settles into the role and I look forward to those."

The current Senedd leader, Andrew RT Davies, publicly backed Jenrick, writing in the Telegraph that he had a "clear plan for how we restore the faith in British politics" and that "the public has had enough of policy-free politicians who talk a good game, but have nothing to back it up".

Jenrick accused Badenoch during the leadership contest of being "disrespectful" to Conservative members, by failing to offer clear policies.

Mr Davies congratulated Badenoch on becoming leader and called on his party to "get behind" her.

"On behalf of the Welsh Conservatives, I’d like to congratulate Kemi on becoming leader of our party and wish her well in leading His Majesty’s Opposition," he said.

"Both candidates brought forward a positive vision for our country and now that the contest is finished, it’s time to come together and get behind Kemi in holding this dreadful Labour government to account, who have already caused so much damage to Wales in their short time in power in London.

"For Wales, and for the United Kingdom, it’s vital that we put an end to Labour’s rule at both ends of the M4, and I look forward to working with Kemi to make that happen.”

Asked whether it was wise for Mr Davies, as Senedd group leader, to have publicly backed any candidate, Mr Kurtz said it was a “decision for Andrew".

“What I know Andrew will do now is get behind Kemi Badenoch and unify the party here in Wales behind our new leader, looking forward towards the Senedd election in 2026," he said.

Speaking after the leadership result was announced on Saturday morning, Badenoch said her mission to rebuild the party would include all Conservative members across the UK.

"That huge job begins today," she said.

"It will seek to involve all of our colleagues in Parliament, in the Scottish Parliament, the Senedd, our friends in Northern Ireland, as well as councillors and party members."