Ifor Davies

Ifor Davies (9 June 1910 – 6 June 1982) was a Welsh Labour Party politician.

Davies was educated at Gowerton School, Swansea Technical College and Ruskin College, Oxford. He was an industrial personnel officer and served as a councillor on Glamorgan County Council, representing Gowerton 1958-61. Prior to election to Parliament, he was Agent to his predecessor, Rt Hon David Grenfell. He married Doreen (Griffiths) and had two children, Wyn and Janet. Wyn had a distinguished musical career being Director of Music with New Zealand Opera.

Davies was Member of Parliament (MP) for Gower from 1959 until he died in office in 1982. He was succeeded by Gareth Wardell. Under Harold Wilson, Davies was a Lord Commissioner of the Treasury and Welsh whip from 1964 to 1966 and a junior minister at the Welsh Office from 1966 to 1969. He was also a former Chairman of the Welsh Grand Committee and Member of the Speaker's Panel of Chairmen. In 1971, Davies was one of the sixty nine Labour MPs who defied the Labour Whip to vote in favour of entry to the EEC. He campaigned for a 'No' vote in the 1978 referendum in Wales on the establishment of a Welsh Assembly, along with other members of the 'Gang of Six', Neil Kinnock, Leo Abse, Donald Anderson, Alfred Evans (politician) and Ioan Evans. Throughout his tenure as MP, he was sponsored by the white-collar trade union APEX.

Ifor Davies was a man of Christian principles who, for many years, was Secretary of Tabernacle Chapel, Gowerton, continuing in that role whilst a Member of Parliament. He was also a former Chairman of the Council of Swansea University. He resided at Ty Pentwyn, Three Crosses on Gower.

References

*"Times Guide to the House of Commons", 1966 & 1979
*rayment