Gareth Lewis: Can Conservatives keep unified front?

There was disquiet over Andrew RT Davies’ leadership over the summer in public and private

Present a unified front. No in-fighting. Don’t squabble.

There have been remarkably similar messages from two Conservative leaders in Birmingham.

Rishi Sunak, who is on his way out; and Andrew RT Davies, Tory Senedd leader, who says he is the right man to be in charge for the 2026 Senedd election.

There is one very open leadership campaign taking place at the Conservative conference involving the four contenders to replace the former PM, and then there are more opaque rumblings about Davies.

The two Conservatives leaders gave similar messages in Birmingham

While Sunak’s plea for unity might be difficult to deliver in the middle of a leadership campaign, Davies’s call for a unified front comes after a suggestion from a former Welsh secretary that he should stand down.

He is in his second stint as leader, and has urged his colleagues not to follow what he calls the "London" Tory in-fighting.

You might have a sense of déjà vu reading this.

A disquiet summer

There was a wobble over Davies’ leadership over the summer with disquiet in public and private.

Accusations of race-baiting following a row over Halal meat, a picture posted on social media from a fayre which asked whether the Senedd should be abolished, and the decision not to suspend an MS who used a racial slur on social media messaging platform WhatApp.

Guto Harri, Boris Johnson’s former spin doctor, said at the time that new leadership was needed, and we’re told Davies picked up on that at an event on Sunday night, with Harri in the room.

But back in the summer, despite concern and disquiet, no one made a move against the Senedd Tory leader.

No one appears to be making a move now either.

There are suggestions that some posturing is going on, but Davies’ detractors aren’t prepared to take the risk of challenging him.

There is also public and private support for Davies. Déjà vu.

The Senedd election will be a huge test for the Welsh Conservatives after their general election drubbing, the threat to their vote from Reform and dismal polling.

Conservatives this week and Labour last week are scratching their heads about how to best take on Nigel Farage’s party.

To give themselves the best fighting chance though, the Welsh Conservatives know that the one thing they cannot be seen to be doing is fighting each other.