Top Conservative politician Chris Philp struggled to identify the leader of his party in Wales during a challenging television interview. When questioned by GB News host Chris Hope, Philp repeatedly avoided providing the name before admitting he couldn’t recall, citing the newness of the leader. Hope informed Philp that the leader is Darren Millar and highlighted concerns about the party’s declining presence in Wales.
Responding to accusations that the Tories are neglecting Wales, Philp defended his party’s inclusive governance approach, highlighting national initiatives such as welfare savings, stamp duty cuts, immigration enforcement, and police recruitment discussed at the recent party conference. Millar took over as leader of the Welsh Conservatives in the Senedd following Andrew RT Davies’ resignation amid internal party criticism.
In a recent Caerphilly by-election, the Welsh Tories secured only 2% of the vote, trailing behind Plaid Cymru, Reform, and Labour. Philp faced criticism for his shifting stance on whether comments by Reform MP Sarah Pochin regarding diversity in advertising were racist. Initially hesitant to label the remarks as such, Philp later condemned Pochin’s comments as racist and emphasized the need for accountability and sensitivity in public discourse.