Welsh Tory assembly leadership hopefuls go head-to-head

The two Conservatives vying to lead their party in the Welsh assembly have set out their stalls.

Nick Ramsay and Andrew RT Davies - who want to replace Nick Bourne after he lost his assembly seat - went head-to-head on BBC Wales's AMPM programme.

Monmouth AM Mr Ramsay said he could bring people together to get the Tories into power.

South Wales Central AM Mr Davies said he was the man to "stand up to [First Minister] Carwyn Jones".

The election follows the ejection of Mr Bourne from the assembly on an otherwise good election night for his party.

Mr Ramsay and Mr Davies were the only two candidates to stand for the leadership when nominations closed on Monday.

Mr Ramsay said: "I'm going to go out there and say that I've got the energy, I've got the determination.

"I've also got the ability to bring people together in a team that's going to be necessary to get us into power."

He added: "On most areas we are exactly the same, we believe in the same things.

"I think I've got the edge in terms of reaching out to people who don't traditionally vote Conservative, people we need to get on board."

Mr Davies emphasised his experience as a private businessman and as a "family man with four kids going through the education system".

He said the Welsh Conservatives' centre-right agenda had resonated with voters.

'Family man'

"I believe we need to be more powerful and articulate in taking that to every community. There are no no-go areas in Wales and I passionately want to be that person driving it forward," he said.

He added: "This is about who will stand up to Carwyn Jones in that chamber and out in Wales at large."

The winner is chosen in a postal ballot of Welsh Tory members with the result expected on 14 July.

Mr Ramsay said he had a "true vision about where we need to go" and that if he wins he would make sure the Welsh Conservatives "adapt in a way that we need to, renew ourselves in a way that we need to, to ensure that vision is reached".

Speaking in the Senedd, Mr Davies said he believed in "breaking the windows of this place so devolution seeps into all parts of Wales".

The Tories won 14 seats and overtook Plaid Cymru to become the second largest party in the Senedd at the election.

The winner will be chosen in a postal ballot of party members in Wales, with the result expected on 14 July.