David Melding is the Conservative AM for South Wales Central and the deputy Presiding Officer of the National Assembly for Wales. He was previously the Shadow Minister for Economic Development and the Welsh Conservatives' director of policy and has previously chaired the Assembly's Health and Social Services, and Standards of Conduct Committees. Born in Neath in 1962, David is the former manager of the Carers National Association in Wales and a former Deputy Director of the Welsh Centre for International Affairs. He is the author of a number of publications, most recently Will Britain Survive Beyond 2020?

Which PM won gold for Wales?

How did Prime Ministers in the 20th Century respond to the challenges of Wales and who in particular showed most respect to our potential as a nation?

Nations Still

What does the American experience of nationalism have to teach us? Regular columnist David Melding finds out, with the help a tour through the US south

Moses, Maggie and the Message

With his Lenten pastimes of reading the Old Testament and pondering Mrs Thatcher’s record in government, our regular columnist ponders on points of synergy between the two, and how religion and politics often mix

The Crown and the Presence of Absence

City Hall should become a Royal Palace, creating a Welsh Order of Chivalry, and introducing Regius Professorships to Wales: just some of the ideas advocated to increase the role and visibility of the monarchy in a modern Wales

Why is Cardiff so unloved by us Welsh?

We don’t love our capital city and, though our grumbles are mostly unfair, there is a germ of truth in the criticism that Cardiff is not yet fully the champion of Wales. And it could start by being prouder of its own and the nation’s heritage

Good news from Belgium

Regular columnist David Melding takes us on an interesting festive journey through the future of spin, a windy episode in Neath Abbey – and the true meaning of a Belgian statement

Why did Scotland hate that bloody woman?

Margaret Thatcher’s impact on Scottish politics and the Scottish Conservative Party contains many warnings that a future Cameron government should heed

Probably the Worst Question in the World

Calling for a referendum is easy. Setting the question could tax the greatest minds in Wales, says regular columnist David Melding AM

What a good race for the Roses

Beginning a monthly column for WalesHome.org, Conservative AM David Melding provides a surprising but constructive take on three people he knows well at first hand – the candidates for the Labour leadership election