Tories look to the future at Welsh spring conference

The Welsh Conservatives held their spring conference at Ffos Las Racecourse in Kidwelly, Carmarthenshire, with speakers including party leader Andrew RT Davies and Theresa May.

Unsurprisingly, Brexit was a key theme at the event, as was the Welsh Government's plans to revamp local authorities, while speakers were frank about the party's disappointing results in last year's General Election, which saw the Conservatives lose three MPs in Wales.

In her speech Mrs May swore Wales would not lose out as a result of Brexit.

The prime minister, who made the decision to call last year's snap General Election while walking in Snowdonia, opened her speech by joking "Don't worry, I haven't brought my walking boots with me."

She also praised Mr Davies, calling him "formidable", as well as Welsh secretary Alun Cairns and others including leader of Monmouthshire County Council Cllr Peter Fox.

And she called for unity between the two branches of the party in the preparations for Brexit.

"When we leave the EU, and take back control of our money, we can replace the ineffective EU structural funds with better targeted support for local areas," she said.

"So to reduce inequalities between communities across the four nations of our United Kingdom, we will launch a new UK Shared Prosperity Fund, tailored to the needs of communities.

"Throughout the development of the modern industrial strategy, we have worked closely with the Welsh Government. And we will continue to do so.

"Because we cannot let lines on a map or political differences between governments stop us from acting in the best interests of our economy."

And she attacked the Welsh Government's record on education, saying: "Let’s not mince words - Labour have betrayed a generation of Welsh children. And as UK Prime Minister, I care about the future of every child in the UK.

"I want everyone to get the best start in life and for ours to be a country that truly works for everyone.

And if the UK is to thrive outside the EU, we need to be firing on all cylinders."

She added: "As Conservatives we have a better vision for Wales.

"And Welsh Conservatives are making the case for it.

"A Wales which thrives at the heart of our United Kingdom – with a stronger economy and greater prosperity in every community.

"A Wales that seizes the opportunities of Brexit – trading around the world and leading in high-technology and manufacturing.

"A Wales where every community can make a contribution to our economic success and reap the rewards through our modern industrial strategy.

"Let’s work every day to deliver that stronger economy and fairer society in the future.

"Let’s build a Wales – and build a Britain – that truly works for everyone."

In his speech Mr Davies said Labour had become "arrogant, complacent, and out of touch"

And he called for national interest to be out ahead of party loyalties for the good of the country.

"We need the best and brightest in Wales working together, not against each other," he said.

"Wales is sitting on a goldmine of potential which Labour have consistently failed to exploit.

"Our children and grandchildren deserve better as our country’s future prosperity can’t afford another lost two generations thanks to a couple decades more Labour incompetence."

He also paid tribute to former Welsh Government minister Carl Sargeant, who died in November last year, calling him “a good man” and saying “in many ways we were cut from the same cloth”, as well as Plaid Cymru South Wales East AM Steffan Lewis, who is currently being treated for cancer.

Among the key themes to arise out of the one-day event was the need to attract more women to run for the party in Wales - where a female Conservative candidate has never been elected as MP. And the party has launched a new campaign, WOmen2Win Wales, encouraging women to put themselves forward as candidates in future elections.

Mr Cairns also spoke at the event, where he swore the UK Government would deliver “a Brexit deal that works for Wales and every part of the UK”.

Saying “I couldn’t be clearer in my optimism for the future”, he said: “We must remember that Brexit was never a vote to turn inward and retreat from the world.

“This is a chance to follow that international agenda, to strengthen our relationship with old friends and to reach out to new allies, as well as to continue that deep and special partnership with European nations.”

He also hailed the forthcoming scrapping of tolls on the two Severn bridges, saying: “No other policy will have such an immediate impact on growing the economy in south Wales and the south west of England than this.

“But what excites me most is the new economic region that is emerging as a result, binding the south Wales economy with the south west to compete with the Northern Powerhouse and the Midlands Engine.”

Concluding his speech he said: "Now, more than ever, we must be confident and outward looking.

"Now is the time to internationalise. Now is the time to be global leaders. Now is the time to shout about our offer to the world.

"Now is the time to stand up and to be confident about our role in the new order. "So with this spirit let’s work together, build a Wales that is part of g Global Britain and a United Kingdom that is fit for the future."

And, while Gwent may have a relatively small Conservative contingent, the region nonetheless put in a strong showing at the party's spring conference.

Among those to speak at the event were Monmouth AM Nick Ramsay and his Parliamentary counterpart David Davies, who gave the penultimate speech of the day, along with South Wales East AM Mohammad Asghar and county council leader Cllr Peter Fox and Cllr Sara Jones, who is the authority's cabinet member for social justice.

Mr Davies' speech went down particularly well, where he blasted Labour as "led by metropolitan left wingers who have little in common with the people of this country."

And Mr Ramsay also attacked Labour's record on public spending, saying "Our country really does deserve better than this".

But, he added: “To attack Labour is not enough. To attack the nationalists is fun, but it’s not enough. We have to come up with viable alternatives or people won’t listen.

He added: “I don’t think Wales can afford another 22 years of Labour rule."

Meanwhile Mr Asghar said he believed Labour has a vested interest in keeping areas poor claiming, if they became more prosperous, people living there would be more inclined to vote Conservative.

“After 20 years of Labour government it saddens me that Wales still has the weakest economy in the UK," he said.

He added a Conservative-run Welsh Government would "not only catch up to the other devolved nations, but we will overtake them, because we have the resources"

And Cllr Fox said a key challenge the party needed to overcome was the public perception of the party as not being concerned with social issues.

“The Labour Party at all levels believe they are the only party who have a social conscience,” he said. “This is so wrong."

And Cllr Jones backed him up, saying: “We need to get into the mindset of the electorate, to change those perceptions so that we are the party at the heart of the social justice agenda.”

Other speakers included Wales MEP Kay Swinburne, making her final conference appearance before Brexit, as well as a number of AMs, MPs and councillors.

Other announcements made at the conference included that a Conservative-led Welsh Government would offer all council tax relief to all care leavers in Wales. This policy is already in place in a number of councils.