Key interests and
achievements
Paul is a prolific campaigner
for the autism community in Wales and brought forward draft legislation on an
Autism Act for Wales, which whilst wasn’t passed by the Senedd, resulted in
significant statutory changes to autism provision in Wales. Paul is also the
leading figure of the campaign to better preserve and protect War Memorials in
Wales and regularly raises this issue in the Senedd Chamber.
Personal history
Paul was born in 1969 and grew
up in Pontsian just outside Llandysul in the County of Ceredigion. He attended
Tregroes Primary School, Llandysul Grammar School and after studying his A
Levels at Newcastle Emlyn Comprehensive School, he joined Lloyds Bank in 1987.
Professional background
Prior to being elected, Paul
continued to be employed by Lloyds Bank and his last role with the company was
as a Business Manager based in Haverfordwest helping to support small
businesses.
Political history
In February 2000, Paul fought
the Ceredigion Parliamentary by-election and improved the Welsh Conservative
Party's position from fifth place in the previous election to third. He also
stood in the 2001 general election as the Parliamentary candidate for
Ceredigion. In 2003, Paul stood for the Welsh Conservatives in Preseli
Pembrokeshire at the Assembly election and increased his party’s share of the
vote from 23% to 30%. In May 2007, Paul was elected as the Welsh Conservative Assembly
Member for Preseli Pembrokeshire, with 38.6% of the vote and a majority of
3,205. Following the election, Paul was appointed Shadow Minister for Culture,
the Welsh Language and Sport and later appointed Shadow Minister for Education
and the Welsh Language. At the Assembly’s 2011 elections, Paul was re-elected
and increased his share of the vote to 42.4%. He was appointed as Interim
Leader of the Welsh Conservative Assembly Group and later appointed Deputy
Leader of the Welsh Conservative Assembly Group and Shadow Minister for
Finance. In 2016, Paul was re-elected, increasing his majority to 3,930. He
continued as Deputy Leader of the Welsh Conservative Group, Business Manager
and Chief Whip as well as becoming the Welsh Conservative spokesperson on Rural
Affairs. In September 2018, Paul was elected as the Leader of the Welsh
Conservatives in the Senedd, a position he held until 2021. At the Senedd
elections in 2021, Paul was again re-elected with a majority of 1,400.
