Monday, August 16, 1999 Published at 13:52 GMT 14:52 UK
Welsh Tories await leadership decision
Nick Bourne looks set to be confirmed as Welsh Tory leader
Welsh Conservatives are waiting to hear who will be their new leader in the National Assembly following the resignation of Rod Richards.
Mr Richards had stood down temporarily from the leadership in order to fight an allegation of causing grievous bodily harm to a young woman.
His choice of deputy leader, 29-year-old Monmouth Assembly Member David Davies, was rejected by the other Tory AMs, who thought him too inexperienced, and when that happened, Mr Richards made his resignation permanent.
If no further nominations have been received for the leadership by Wednesday, then Mr Bourne will become the new leader of the Tories in the Assembly.
Mr Bourne had previously challenged Rod Richards for the leadership of the Conservatives in Wales, losing to him in a ballot of the members.
Educated at University of Wales, Aberystwyth and Trinity College, Cambridge, Mr Bourne was formerly, the Conservatives_ Chief Spokesman in Wales.
He led the No campaign against the setting up of the National Assembly in 1997, but after the vote went in favour of devolution, he became a member of the National Assembly Advisory Group.
He is a barrister and an author, and his political interests are the economy, foreign affairs, health and education.