VALE-BASED South Wales Central AM, Andrew RT Davies has been awarded a CBE in The Queen’s New Year honours list.

The former Welsh Conservative leader in the National Assembly was made a Commander of the Order of the British Empire in the list announced on December 27.

He was first elected to the National Assembly for Wales in 2007 on the South Wales Central regional list and elected leader by the party’s membership in 2011, serving in post until June 2018.

In the EU referendum of 2016, he helped lead the ‘leave’ campaign in Wales.

He currently serves as shadow minister for environment and rural affairs in the Welsh Assembly and is also a Vale councillor for his home ward of Rhoose.

Mr Andrew RT Davies said: "To have been included in The Queen’s New Year honours list has come as a huge surprise and is very humbling.

“This is a fantastic honour and it wouldn’t have been possible without the support of my wife, children, the fantastic members of staff and Conservative party activists who I’ve had the pleasure of working with since entering the Welsh Assembly in 2007.

“It’s easily forgotten in the heat of today’s political debate that families sacrifice a huge amount when a husband and father opts for a position in public life and I’m particularly grateful for their unstinting and continuing love.

"I’m by no means done yet and this award only inspires me to continue standing up for my constituents, promoting the important causes that are closest to me, and ensure we deliver a better future for people and communities right across Wales.”

He joined the Welsh Conservatives in 1997 and stood as a parliamentary candidate in Cardiff West in 2001 and in Brecon and Radnorshire in 2005.

His background is in the business community, as a partner in the family farming business based in Llantrithyd.

He is a life governor of the Royal Welsh Agricultural Society and is also a past president of the Vale of Glamorgan Agricultural Society, Llantrisant Young Farmers Club and former Chairman of creative communities, an organisation which seeks to develop structural community development.