CONSERVATIVE Party members in Wales will be given a vote on any proposals to enter into a coalition in the Welsh Assembly, one of the candidates to lead the group has said.

Paul Davies, who is currently serving as the group's interim leader following the surprise resignation of Andrew RT Davies at the end of June, officially launched his campaign to take on the role full-time at a packed event at the Mad Platter in Usk yesterday, Thursday.

The Preseli Pembrokeshire AM, who is running against South Wales West AM Suzy Davies for the role, made a series of pledges, and said key among them was to give party members a more active role.

"We understand the need to properly value you, our members," he said.

"Under my leadership grassroots members wold have far more of a say."

As part of this, Mr Davies said, if a coalition with another party was proposed following an election, a special conference would be held where members would get a vote before any final decision is made.

He added: "We must once again empower our members, give them a purpose and give them a voice."

Although he supported the Remain campaign in 2016, Mr Davies said he does not support calls for a second referendum, and would instead work to strengthen the union between the four nations of the UK.

Concluding, he said: "I will do everything I can as your new leader to break new ground, winning new constituencies from the Labour Party and breaking their grip on power."

Both Monmouth's elected representatives also attended the event to throw their support behind Mr Davies, with AM Nick Ramsay saying he would make "a cracking first minister".

"I really think Paul is the right person at the right time to lead the Welsh Conservatives," he said.

And MP David Davies praised his namesake as "a man of integrity".

Others to attend the busy event included South Wales East AM Mohammad Asghar and former Welsh secretary Stephen Crabb, Mr Davies' Parliamentary counterpart.

The winner of the election is due to be announced on Thursday, September 6.