David Melding
David Melding Shadow Counsel General & Shadow Minister for Culture & Communications | |
|---|---|
| In office 17 July 2020 – 9 September 2020 | |
| Leader | Paul Davies |
| Preceded by | New position |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 28 August 1962 Shadow Cabinet (Wales) |
| Website | davidmelding.wales |
David Robert Michael Melding
Early life
Melding was born in Neath, where he attended Dwr-y-Felin Comprehensive School.[1]
He read Politics at the
Early career
Melding began his career as part of the Conservative Research Department from 1986 until 1989.
In 1989, he became Deputy Director of the Welsh Centre for International Affairs until 1996. From 1996 to 1999, he was a coordinator at the Carers National Association in Wales.[2]
Political career
Melding was elected to the
He has long served as the Welsh Conservatives' Director of Policy, writing manifestos for the 2003, 2007, and 2011 assembly elections.[3]
He served as Deputy
In 2016, he was mentioned as a likely name to seek the role of Presiding Officer to succeed the outgoing Rosemary Butler, but in May he confirmed we would not be standing.[4]
Melding takes an interest in Welsh constitutional matters, and in 2017 proposed the establishment of a "second chamber of the assembly... for residents to influence decisions and laws". Such a chamber would be formed on the basis of citizens service.[5]
That same year, he was awarded a CBE for his "services to political and public life" in the New Years Honours List.[6]
In July 2018, he supported Paul Davies in his campaign to become the Welsh Conservatives' new leader.[7]
In August 2019, Melding wrote in the Daily Express stating that the Conservative Party was under "severe threat" and "about to split".[8]
In September 2019, Melding spoke out against his party's position on a no-deal Brexit, stating that he "wanted no part in a no-deal Brexit strategy that would hurt the most vulnerable."[9]
He quit his role in the shadow front bench in September 2020 after disagreements with the party over changes to the Brexit agreements and the
Senedd positions
While serving in the Senedd, Melding has been appointed to a number of Committee and
- Chair of the Standards of Conduct Committee in the First Assembly (1999-03)
- Chair of the Legislation Committee in the Second Assembly (2003–07)
- Chair of Audit Committee in the Third Assembly (2007–2011)
- Shadow Minister for Economic Development (2007–2015)
- Shadow Cabinet Secretary for Housing, Heritage, Culture, and Media (2016–2020)
- Shadow Counsel General & Shadow Minister for Culture & Communications (July 2020 – September 2020)
Personal life
In his spare time, Melding is Governor of Meadowbank Special School in Cardiff and Headlands Special School in Penarth.[12]
In February 2018, he spoke to the BBC about his experiences of "horribly debilitating" panic attacks, during a debate on mental health in the Senedd.[13]
References
- ^ WalesOnline (27 November 2003). "'Pub bore'classics". walesonline. Retrieved 25 September 2019.
- ^ a b "BBC News AMs profile". BBC News. 12 May 1998. Archived from the original on 21 August 2019. Retrieved 25 September 2019.
- ^ "Sam Warburton in New Year Honours". 30 December 2017. Retrieved 25 September 2019.
- ^ Shipton, Martin (9 May 2016). "David Melding rules himself out of Presiding Officer role". walesonline. Retrieved 25 September 2019.
- ^ "Compulsory Welsh democratic duty call". 15 October 2017. Retrieved 25 September 2019.
- ^ Walford, Jessica; Thomas, Simon; Williamson, David; Bannon, Christie; Roderick, Oliver; Dalling, Robert; Lewis, Ian; Griffiths, Megan; Bellis, Katie (29 December 2017). "The full list of Welsh people in the Queen's New Year's Honours list". walesonline. Retrieved 25 September 2019.
- ^ "David Melding backs Paul Davies for Welsh Tory leadership". ITV News. 30 July 2018. Retrieved 25 September 2019.
- ^ "Conservative Party 'could be in its last days', says DAVID MELDING | Politics | News | Express.co.uk". 14 September 2019. Archived from the original on 14 September 2019. Retrieved 25 September 2019.
- ^ "PM has lost all respect for the truth – Drakeford". 5 September 2019. Retrieved 25 September 2019.
- ^ "Welsh Tory quits frontbench over PM's union stance". BBC News. 9 September 2020. Retrieved 9 September 2020.
- ^ Twitter https://twitter.com/davidmeldingms/status/1303695663172136961. Retrieved 9 September 2020.
{{cite web}}: Missing or empty|title=(help) - ^ "Governors". Headlands School. Retrieved 25 September 2019.
- ^ "Panic attacks 'debilitating' says AM". BBC News. 15 February 2018. Retrieved 25 September 2019.
External links
Offices held
| International | |
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| National | |
| Other | |
