Wales and the Conservative Government, 2015-20

This chapter explores the Conservatives’ record between 2015 and 2020 in Wales—a part of the UK where the party has a very long history of unpopularity. Conservative leadership during this period (and in preceding years) alternated between combative and conciliatory approaches to the devolved Welsh Labour government. However, the lack of a stable devolution settlement in Wales, and difficulties surrounding the issue of Brexit, underpinned a general trend towards increasing conflict between the governments in London and Cardiff. The Conservatives’ electoral record during the period examined was highly inconsistent—and while the 2019 general election saw the Tories equal their best post-war result in Wales, such success rested on unstable foundations. Wales’ long-term future in the UK, the political and economic consequences of Brexit for Wales, and the position of the Conservatives in Welsh politics, all remain highly uncertain.