Nick Ramsay: Tory Welsh assembly member suspended from party after ‘police incident’

Suspension to be reviewed after consideration of incident by ‘external agencies’, says spokesperson

(Getty)

The Conservatives’ shadow finance minister in the Welsh Assembly has been suspended from the party following a police incident on Wednesday.

It is understood that 44-year-old Nick Ramsay was arrested by police at his home in Raglan, Monmouthshire, on the evening of New Year’s Day.

A Welsh Conservative spokesperson confirmed that he had been suspended both from the party and from its grouping in the Cardiff Bay assembly, pending investigation by “external agencies”.

The former driving instructor entered the Welsh Assembly as Tory AM for Monmouth in 2007 and held the local government, business and health briefs for the Conservatives before being appointed shadow cabinet secretary for finance. He also chairs the assembly’s Public Accounts Committee, which scrutinises expenditure by the Labour-run Welsh Government and other public bodies. He made an unsuccessful bid for the leadership of the Tory group in the assembly in 2011.

A Welsh Conservative spokesperson said: “Nick Ramsay has been suspended from the Welsh Conservative Group in the National Assembly for Wales and from the Conservative Party following an incident which took place yesterday.

“The suspension will be reviewed following consideration of the matter by external agencies. 

“We will not be making any further comments at this time.”

Gwent Police made no response to reports of Mr Ramsay’s arrest.