Wales@Westminster newslog

It's Wales@Westminster weblog, BBC Wales' Parliamentary correspondent David Cornock's diary on political life.

Thursday 8 December

Moooving on

posted by David | 1250 GMT |

Some of the more engaging characters in politics are saying goodbye to Welsh life.

Maggie, Delilah and Loveday, prize-winning Hereford cattle and regular visitors to this weblog, are moving on, as is their owner, Bill Wiggin.

Bosa 1 Loveday clinched first prize in the Monmouth Show Hereford

Bill is leaving his job as shadow secretary of state for Wales, the Welsh Tories' main spokesman at Westminster. He stays on the opposition front bench as an environment spokesman.

His scepticism towards devolution ruffled a few feathers among his party's members of the Welsh assembly and the new Tory leader, David Cameron, has made it clear he wants to drop the option of abolition from his policy portfolio.

Bill tells me: "I leave this job, and the Conservative party in Wales, in a far better state than when I found it.

"There are many happy moments which I look back on ranging from singing the national anthem with the whole audience lip reading.

"To the debates on television with other party leaders. Despite their own roots in South Africa and Northern Ireland, there was never an opportunity missed to point out that my constituency was the other side of the border.

"Having been to Bangor University and served in the Royal Welch Fusiliers, it was wonderful to spend so much time in Wales again.

"It has been a great honour and privilege to work with so many people who are determined to deliver a better future for the people of Wales."

Maggie (named after you-know-who), Loveday and Delilah were unavailable for comment.