- David T C Davies (Welsh politician)
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For similarly named British Conservative politician, see David Davis (English politician).For other people named David Davies, see David Davies (disambiguation).
David Davies
MP
Member of Parliament
for MonmouthIncumbent Assumed office
5 May 2005Preceded by Huw Edwards Majority 10,425 (22.4%) Member of the Welsh Assembly
for MonmouthIn office
6 May 1999 – 3 May 2007Preceded by Constituency Created Succeeded by Nick Ramsay Personal details Born 27 July 1970
Newham, London, EnglandNationality Welsh Political party Conservative Spouse(s) Aliz Harnisfoger Website www.david-daviesmp.co.uk David Thomas Charles Davies, MP (born 27 July 1970) is a British Conservative Party politician. He is the Member of Parliament (MP) for Monmouth in South Wales. Davies is also a special police constable, and volunteers with his local police force.
Contents
Background
Davies was born in London and was educated at Bassaleg School on Forge Lane in Bassaleg, Newport. After leaving school in 1988 he worked for the British Steel Corporation and served with the Territorial Army, before he went travelling in Asia and Australia, whilst on his travels he had many small jobs including picking grapes and tobacco and running a backpacker's hostel in Queensland. He worked for his family in their shipping company, Burrow Heath Ltd, before he entered politics.[1] He is also a Special Constable with the British Transport Police.[2]
He married Aliz Harnisfoger, who is Hungarian, in October 2003 in Monmouth and they have three children (including a daughter born August 2004). He has been the deputy leader of the Conservative Party in Wales since 1999, and he enjoys surfing and can often be found in the sea at Porthcawl or Llantwit Major.
Political career
He unsuccessfully contested the safe Labour seat of Bridgend at the 1997 General Election but finished in second place some 15,248 votes behind the sitting Labour MP Win Griffiths. As an opponent of the Welsh assembly who helped to set up the 'No' campaign in the devolution referendum,[3] Davies became prominent and was selected as Conservative candidate for Monmouth. At the inaugural 1999 Welsh Assembly Election he won election to the National Assembly for Wales there.[1][4]
He was elected as member of the House of Commons at the 2005 General Election for Monmouth, the same seat he holds in the Welsh Assembly. He defeated the sitting Labour MP Huw Edwards by 4,527 votes, and remains the MP there. He made his maiden speech on 18 May 2005, in which he gave a history of his constituency from Geoffrey of Monmouth forwards.[5] In parliament he joined the Welsh Affairs Select Committee on his election.
As his name sounds the same as David Davis, a candidate in the 2005 Conservative leadership contest, confusion could occur between the two in Westminster. Therefore, David Davies is referred to in the House of Commons in Westminster as David T.C. Davies. This has caused opposition MPs to refer to him in jest as Top Cat, a cartoon character who shares the same initials, T.C.. This confusion led to controversy in 2008 when the National Black Police Association mistakenly invited Davies to speak at a conference instead of his more prominent near-namesake.[6] The Monmouth MP attracted criticism with a speech condemning the NBPA's race-based membership policy.[7]
He is a supporter of the Better Off Out campaign, which campaigns for the United Kingdom to leave the European Union.[8] Though recently Davies has refused to support a referendum on membership of the European Union, suggesting his stance has now changed.
Davies was criticised in January 2010 for referring to some ethnic groups, as "having barbaric views on women".[9]
Davies claimed that the Labour party think he is a Nazi.[10]
Davies was criticised in May 2010 for appearing to condone torture, referring to it as 'a bonus'.[11]
Expenses
Davies was criticised by The Daily Telegraph, for claiming £2,000 pounds and paying it to a family business.[12] Davies justified his actions in an interview.[13] David later said he had done nothing wrong.[14] All of Davies's expenses are available here.[15][16]
References
- ^ a b David Davies "BBC News AMs profile". BBC. 12 May 1998. http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/static/uk/wales/13013.stm David Davies. Retrieved 1999-09-01.
- ^ "Tory MP makes loaded gun arrest". BBC News. 11 May 2007. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/wales/6647455.stm. Retrieved 1 May 2010.
- ^ "About David". David Davies MP. http://www.david-daviesmp.co.uk/text.aspx?id=2. Retrieved 7 February 2010.; although note that the campaign is misdated to 1999.
- ^ "Jones warning over Tory victory". BBC News. 5 December 2009. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/wales/south_east/8396575.stm. Retrieved 1 May 2010.
- ^ Department of the Official Report (Hansard), House of Commons, Westminster (2005-05-18). "House of Commons Hansard Debates for 18 May 2005 (pt 14)". Publications.parliament.uk. http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200506/cmhansrd/cm050518/debtext/50518-14.htm#50518-14_spnew3. Retrieved 2010-06-08.
- ^ Chris Brooke (2008-10-28). "Tory MP addresses National Black Police Association annual conference... and blasts THEM as racist | Mail Online". London: Dailymail.co.uk. http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1081318/Tory-MP-addresses-National-Black-Police-Association-annual-conference--blasts-THEM-racist.html. Retrieved 2010-06-08.
- ^ "MP defends police race criticism". BBC News. 2008-10-29. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/wales/south_east/7697728.stm. Retrieved 2008-10-31.
- ^ Kite, Melissa (14 January 2007). "Return of the spectre of Europe". Daily Telegraph (London). http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/1539467/Return-of-the-spectre-of-Europe.html. Retrieved May 19, 2009.
- ^ "Row over MP's rape case comments". BBC News. 28 January 2010. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/wales/8485113.stm. Retrieved 1 May 2010.
- ^ "Tory candidate 'Nazi smear' row". BBC News. 2 May 2010. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/election_2010/wales/8652750.stm. Retrieved 1 May 2010.
- ^ "Tory MP says torture could be ‘a bonus’". Liberal Conspiracy. http://liberalconspiracy.org/2010/05/22/tory-mp-says-torture-could-be-a-bonus/. Retrieved 23 May 2010.
- ^ "Welsh MP expense claims released". BBC News. 18 June 2009. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/wales/8107949.stm. Retrieved 1 May 2010.
- ^ "http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sponsored/lifestyle/lighthairremoval/". The Daily Telegraph (London). http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/mps-expenses/mps-expenses-right-to-reply/. Retrieved 1 May 2010.
- ^ "Many MPs 'considered resigning'". BBC News. 15 May 2009. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/wales/8051841.stm. Retrieved 1 May 2010.
- ^ . http://mps-expenses.guardian.co.uk/conservative/david-davies/.
- ^ "UK Parliament - Allowances by MP - David Davies". Mpsallowances.parliament.uk. http://mpsallowances.parliament.uk/mpslordsandoffices/hocallowances/allowances-by-mp/david-davies/. Retrieved 2010-06-08.
External links
- David Davies MP official constituency website
- David Davies MP Conservative Party profile
- David Davies MP Welsh Conservative Party profile
- Profile at Parliament of the United Kingdom
- Contributions in Parliament at Hansard 1803–2005
- Current session contributions in Parliament at Hansard
- Electoral history and profile at The Guardian
- Voting record at PublicWhip.org
- Record in Parliament at TheyWorkForYou.com
- Profile at Westminster Parliamentary Record
- Profile at BBC News Democracy Live
- Welsh Affairs Select Committee, House of Commons
National Assembly for Wales New title Assembly Member for Monmouth
1999 – 2007Succeeded by
Nick RamsayParliament of the United Kingdom Preceded by
Huw EdwardsMember of Parliament for Monmouth
2005–presentIncumbent Categories:- 1970 births
- Conservative Party (UK) MPs
- Living people
- Conservative Party Members of the National Assembly for Wales
- Wales AMs 1999–2003
- Wales AMs 2003–2007
- Members of the United Kingdom Parliament for Welsh constituencies
- People from Monmouth
- UK MPs 2005–2010
- UK MPs 2010–
- Welsh politicians
- People educated at Bassaleg School
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