It's an honour to be selected as the lead Welsh Conservative candidate for the Vale of Glamorgan and Bridgend for the next Senedd Elections.

Full statement

I'd like to put on record my heartfelt thanks and gratitude to our party members. It would be a privilege to represent the area I’m proud to call home.

Since I’ve been in the Senedd, I’ve made no apologies for challenging a failed consensus and standing up for local people.

We’ve had victories, like forcing Senedd ministers to drop ideologically motivated policies that would destroy Welsh agriculture.

We also forced them, against their will, to move to the phonics method of teaching reading, after they stubbornly backed the discredited cueing system, even though thousands of pupils left primary school unable to read.

But there’s so much more to do. Most Senedd members are stuck in a rut. They continue to pursue and back failed policies, like the dangerous Nation of Sanctuary for asylum seekers. And the majority of Senedd members think spending £120 million on more politicians is the answer, not investing in our public services.

It’s quite clear new blood is required. And I’m not just talking one or two. There needs to be a huge overhaul in personnel.

But alongside that, it’s vital new Senedd members are joined by like minded colleagues who understand how the system works. Those of us who have experience challenging the failed status quo and speaking out against extreme policies have a duty to stick around and play our part.

That’s why I’m standing again. With other likeminded people around me, it’ll be far easier to deliver results.

Over the past few months, I’ve been out and about a lot speaking to residents across the Vale of Glamorgan and Bridgend. It’s what I’ve always done throughout my time in public life. I’m far more at home speaking to real people in our communities than lobbyists and vested interests in Cardiff Bay.

I look forward to making the case to local people as to why they should place in me.

Serving our community is a privilege. And it would be an honour to do so again.