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David Melding

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David Melding
CBE MS
The official portrait of David Melding taken at the Senedd in 2016. He is wearing a suit, tie, and glasses.
David Melding , July 2016
Deputy Presiding Officer of the National Assembly for Wales
In office
11 May 2011 – 11 May 2016
Preceded byRosemary Butler
Succeeded byAnn Jones
Shadow Minister for Economic Development
In office
11 July 2007 – 16 June 2008
LeaderAndrew RT Davies
Preceded byAlun Ffred Jones
Succeeded byRussell George (new position)
Member of the Senedd
for South Wales Central
Incumbent
Assumed office
6 May 1999
Preceded byOffice Created
Shadow Cabinet Secretary for Housing, Heritage, Culture, and Media
In office
18 September 2018 – 17 July 2020
LeaderPaul Davies
Preceded byNew position
Shadow Counsel General & Shadow Minister for Culture & Communications
In office
17 July 2020 – 9 September 2020
LeaderPaul Davies
Preceded byNew position
Personal details
Born (1962-08-28) 28 August 1962 (age 62)
Neath, Wales
Political partyConservative
Alma materCardiff University
OccupationPolitician
CabinetShadow Cabinet (Wales)
Websitedavidmelding.wales

David Robert Michael Melding CBE, MS (born 28 August 1962) is a Welsh Conservative Party Member of the Senedd, representing South Wales Central. He was the Deputy Presiding Officer of the Senedd between 2011 and 2016.

Early life

Melding was born in Neath, where he attended Dwr-y-Felin Comprehensive School.[1]

He read Politics at the University of Wales, Cardiff, obtaining a BSc (Econ), followed by an MA in Government at the College of William and Mary, Virginia in the United States.[2]

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 Senedd Cymru in the South Wales Central Region in 1999, a position he continues to hold.

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 Presiding Officer of the Senedd between 2011 and 2016.

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 UK Internal Market Bill that was brought forward in the UK Parliament on the same day. He made his decision of leaving the front bench permanently after "misgivings for some time" over the party's approach to Brexit, citing that it will lead to the union breaking up.[10][11]

Senedd positions

While serving in the Senedd, Melding has been appointed to a number of Committee and Shadow Cabinet roles:

  • 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

  1. ^ WalesOnline (27 November 2003). "'Pub bore'classics". walesonline. Retrieved 25 September 2019.
  2. ^ a b "BBC News AMs profile". BBC News. 12 May 1998. Archived from the original on 21 August 2019. Retrieved 25 September 2019.
  3. ^ "Sam Warburton in New Year Honours". 30 December 2017. Retrieved 25 September 2019.
  4. ^ Shipton, Martin (9 May 2016). "David Melding rules himself out of Presiding Officer role". walesonline. Retrieved 25 September 2019.
  5. ^ "Compulsory Welsh democratic duty call". 15 October 2017. Retrieved 25 September 2019.
  6. ^ 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.
  7. ^ "David Melding backs Paul Davies for Welsh Tory leadership". ITV News. Retrieved 25 September 2019.
  8. ^ "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.
  9. ^ "PM has lost all respect for the truth – Drakeford". 5 September 2019. Retrieved 25 September 2019.
  10. ^ "Welsh Tory quits frontbench over PM's union stance". BBC News. 9 September 2020. Retrieved 9 September 2020.
  11. ^ "https://twitter.com/davidmeldingms/status/1303695663172136961". Twitter. Retrieved 9 September 2020. {{cite web}}: External link in |title= (help)
  12. ^ "Governors". Headlands School. Retrieved 25 September 2019.
  13. ^ "Panic attacks 'debilitating' says AM". BBC News. 15 February 2018. Retrieved 25 September 2019.

Offices held

Senedd
Preceded by
(new post)
 Member of the Senedd for South Wales Central
1999–present 		Incumbent
Preceded by Deputy Presiding Officer
2011–2016 		Succeeded by
Political offices
Preceded by Shadow Minister for Economic Development
2007–2008
11 July 2007 to 16 June 2008 		Succeeded by
Role merged
Preceded by
(new post)
 Shadow Minister for Economic Development and Transport
2007–2008
16 June 2008 to 22 October 2008 		Succeeded by
Role merged
Preceded by
David Melding
 Shadow Minister for Economic Development
2007–2008
Since 11 July 2007 to 16 June 2008 		Succeeded by
Preceded by
(new post)
 Shadow Cabinet Secretary for Housing, Heritage, Culture, and Media
2016–2020 		Succeeded by
Role merged
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