ANDREW RT DAVIES, the leader of the Welsh Conservatives in the Senedd, has stated he does not believe his leadership is under threat despite growing criticism over his recent remarks and the conduct of a member of his party.

Mr Davies has come under fire for his comments concerning halal meat and the future of the Senedd, as well as his handling of inappropriate language used by Conservative MS, Laura Anne Jones. Jones was recently ousted from Mr Davies’s shadow cabinet following the revelation that she used a racist slur to describe Chinese people in a WhatsApp message. She is also currently under police investigation regarding her expenses.

Despite these controversies, Mr Davies appeared to dismiss the idea of suspending Ms Jones, telling BBC Radio Wales Breakfast that none of his colleagues had proposed such action. He noted that Ms Jones had issued “a full and wholesome apology” for her use of what he termed “wholly inappropriate language.”

“What do we do these days? Do we take people out and tar and feather them, or do we accept an apology, understand that people learn the lessons from their mistake, and move on?” Mr Davies queried.

The Welsh Conservative leader’s remarks come as concerns grow within his party over his social media conduct. Some members of the Conservative Senedd group have privately voiced their unease, with one member reportedly considering calling for an emergency meeting before the end of the summer recess in September.

One party insider described Mr Davies’s social media posts as increasingly “difficult to defend,” suggesting that if the situation continues to deteriorate, his position could become “untenable,” potentially leading to a leadership challenge.

In a separate incident, Mr Davies faced accusations of “Islamophobic race-baiting” from the Muslim Council of Wales. The allegations stemmed from a GB News article penned by Mr Davies, in which he argued that children “should not be forced to eat halal school lunches.” The article followed a complaint from a constituent in Cowbridge, Vale of Glamorgan, who claimed non-halal meat was unavailable at her daughter’s school. However, the school later refuted the claim, stating on social media, “The statement that all meat options are halal only is incorrect.”

Mr Davies has vehemently denied the race-baiting accusations, insisting that his concerns were purely about providing choice.

Further criticism has also come from within his own party. Lord Nick Bourne, a former leader of the Welsh Conservatives, criticised Mr Davies for a social media post in which he questioned whether the Senedd should be abolished. Mr Davies later clarified that neither he nor his party supports the abolition of the Welsh Parliament.

As the summer recess continues, the pressure on Mr Davies shows little sign of abating, with questions remaining over how long he can maintain his leadership amidst the ongoing controversies.