Addressing the annual Welsh Conservative Party Conference in Llangollen, Paul Davies AM, Deputy Leader of the Welsh Conservatives in the National Assembly, said:
Dwi'n hynod o falch i gael y cyfle i'ch annerch chi y prynhawn yma a mae'n bleser ein bod ni gyd yn cwrdd yn Llangollen.
Friends, it's great to be here at Llangollen.
I want to start by telling you how I've found myself standing here in front of you today and why a Welsh speaking boy from a traditional Welsh speaking family from the Welsh speaking heartlands of west Wales became a member of this great Party.
I joined the Conservative Party back in the early 1980s – and I can hear some of you saying that's impossible – I'm not old enough!
But, yes it's true, I joined a Party which at the time was fighting for the soul of the United Kingdom.
Our Party was then led by one of the greatest leaders this country has ever seen.
Margaret Thatcher was busy putting the Great back into Great Britain again – repairing the economic and financial damage left by another Labour Government and fighting political extremism in the form of Arthur Scargill.
At the time the United Kingdom was being shaken to its core, still reeling from Labour's winter of discontent and a socialist Government, which left people not being buried, rubbish not being collected from our streets and homes in the dark for days on end.
But Margaret Thatcher and this Party came to Britain's rescue.
So, yes, I joined the Party in Margaret Thatcher's heyday – it was her leadership, her inspiration that persuaded me to become a foot soldier.
But I also joined because this Party reflects the values that bond us all together.
We are Conservatives because we believe in our country.
We are Conservatives because we believe in law and order.
We are Conservatives because we believe in freedom of the individual.
We are Conservatives because we believe in opportunity.
We are Conservatives because we believe in choice.
And we are Conservatives because we believe in Wales and the United Kingdom – those are the values that make us Conservatives.
As Welsh Conservatives, we believe in the strength of the union.
Wales.
England.
Scotland.
And Northern Ireland.
We believe that the United Kingdom thrives as long as it remains just that – united.
But we also believe in giving people a choice – this Party is confident in trusting its people.
That's why we are the only party to promise the people of the United Kingdom a referendum on our continued membership of the European Union.
The Labour party are absolutely terrified of asking people what they think – because they categorically refuse to give up power.
We believe in the strength of the union, but we recognise, more than any other Party, that people deserve a say on their own futures and on their own destiny.
It is a Conservative-led UK Government that sat down with the Scottish Government and negotiated the Edinburgh Agreement.
It is Conservatives who have said that, despite our desire to see Scotland remain in the union, we want the people of Scotland to decide.
Yes, Scotland will have its say but the rest of us in the United Kingdom will also have a voice.
And it is us Conservatives who have been the driving force behind Welsh devolution in recent years.
In 2011, it was a Conservative presence in the Wales Office which brought about the referendum on further legislative powers for the National Assembly for Wales.
It was a Conservative led administration who established the Silk Commission to examine Wales' devolution settlement within the UK.
We want devolution to work in all parts of our nation so that we have a stronger United Kingdom.
We are confident about the values of a shared union.
This Party is positive about the benefits of the United Kingdom – Wales, England, Scotland and Northern Ireland have a shared identity, a shared history, a shared culture and a shared heritage.
A family of nations working and standing together in the common interest.
Economically, it is crucial we stay together.
Being a part of the Union means Wales benefits enormously.
We've seen that very recently with the announcement of some of the big infrastructure projects – rail electrification to Swansea, a new prison for north Wales and a new Nuclear power station on Anglesey.
These vital strategic projects are only possible because we are a part of the United Kingdom.
Now, Plaid Cymru are giddy at the knees at the prospect of Scotland voting for independence.
Leanne Wood has said this will present an enormous opportunity for the people of Wales.
But what the nationalists and separatists are not telling us is if Wales became independent how would our citizens be defended, what currency would we use, how would we plug the huge financial gap of around £18 Billion which is the difference between the tax take and spend in Wales and would we have border controls.
These are fundamental questions which the nationalists cannot or will not answer - this shows how out of touch the separatists are here in Wales.
A recent ICM poll indicated that Welsh support for independence is at the lowest it has been in over three decades.
Just 5% of people would vote for Welsh independence, if the vote had been held in March 2014.
The latest research indicates that, if Scotland did indeed vote for independence, only 12% of people in Wales would vote to follow suit.
It's quite clear that all nations within the UK are embracing devolution but clearly rejecting independence and valuing the Union – I believe Scotland will be no different in September.
I believe devolution has made the union that much stronger.
Friends, we must acknowledge that we can learn from each other through devolution.
Devolved Governments should be learning from one another – devolved Governments should be sharing best practice and learning lessons.
But to do that we need mature and common sense Governments who are prepared to learn from their neighbours.
And we must not blame devolution for current Governments' failures.
Clearly it's the executive in Cardiff Bay who is not prepared to learn and is failing the people of Wales – the blame lies squarely with the Welsh Labour Government.
We must not blame devolution or the Assembly as an institution.
Let's make sure we blame the real culprits – Comrade Carwyn Jones and his Labour lackeys!
Friends, I want to see a strong Wales as part of a strong United Kingdom.
An United Kingdom where countries communicate with one another and learn from each other.
And, most importantly, where our countries work together in the common interest – this is called the United Kingdom.
Wales is a key member of the United Kingdom and we can grow and prosper together.
That old saying is true today as it ever was: united we stand, divided we fall.
Let's not forget, we are in a Global Race.
Unity is the best option for all of us, because we are truly Better Together.
So as a Party:
Let's speak up for a strong Wales in a strong United Kingdom.
Let's stand up for a strong Wales in a strong United Kingdom.
Let's fight for a strong Wales in a strong United Kingdom.
Let's defend a strong Wales in a strong United Kingdom.
