The new Conservative leader of the Senedd has spoken openly about his Christian faith.
Darren Millar MS told the Welsh parliament that being a Christian is “who I am” and “people need to get over it”.
On 5th December, Millar was elected leader after Andrew RT Davies stepped down from the role.
The member for Clwyd West is involved in Christian work, and is CEO of the Pocket Book Testament League. The organisation describes itself as “a group of Christians who have committed to reading the Word of God, carrying the Word with them wherever they go, and sharing the Word with others.”
He is also a trustee of the Evan Roberts Institute, which lists its charitable objective as “advancing the Christian religion in Wales… through the preservation of sites of religious significance”, and educating the public on Welsh religious heritage.
Controversially, the Evan Roberts Institute has links to the church of Yang Tuck Yoong, a Singaporean Pentecostal minister who described homosexuality as “an abomination”. In 2019, Millar told the BBC he had cut ties with Mr Yoong.
Millar insists that he will champion freedom whilst in his new role.
He has described himself as pro-life, but says he “believes in freedom of choice and personal responsibility - I do not like to impose my views on anybody else".
He insisted the Welsh Conservatives are: "pro freedom of choice, pro personal responsibility, pro home ownership, pro farming, pro Wales and pro devolution."
Millar did not face any challenge from within the party to win its Senedd leadership. Andrew RT Davies stepped down, after a vote of confidence – which he nevertheless won.
Conservatives in Westminster had expressed doubts over the direction in which Davies was leading the Welsh branch of the party. In August, he wrote a GB News article stating that “children should not be forced to eat halal meat in school”, which was met with accusations of Islamophobia.
Upon succeeding Davies, Millar told the Senedd: “Andrew has his style and I have my own.
"I want to plough my own furrow, and point out that it is more important in politics to define yourself by what you are for rather than what you are against.”