David Davies (Welsh politician)

Infobox MP
honorific-prefix =
name = David Davies
honorific-suffix =MP
small

constituency_MP = Monmouth
parliament =
majority = 4,527 (9.9%)
predecessor = Huw Edwards
successor = Incumbent
term_start = 5 May 2005
term_end =
constituency_AM2 = Monmouth
assembly2 = Welsh
majority2 =
predecessor2 = "new constituency"
successor2 = Nick Ramsay
term_start2 = 6 May 1999
term_end2 = 3 May 2007
birth_date = Birth date and age|1970|07|27|df=yes
birth_place = Newham, London
death_date =
death_place =
nationality = British
spouse = Aliz Harnisfoger
party = Conservative
relations =
children =
residence =
alma_mater =
occupation =
profession =
religion =


website =
footnotes =

David Thomas Charles Davies (born 27 July 1970) is a British politician. He is the Conservative Member of Parliament for Monmouth.

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. [cite web | title=BBC News AMs profile | work=BBC | url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/static/uk/wales/13013.stm David Davies| accessdate=1999-09-01]

In his spare time he is also a Special Constable with the British Transport Police. [ [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/wales/6647455.stm] ]

He married Aliz Harnisfoger, who is Hungarian, in October 2003 in Monmouth and they have two 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. He was elected to the National Assembly for Wales at the inaugural 1999 Welsh Assembly Election for the seat at Monmouth. [cite web | title=BBC News AMs profile | work=BBC | url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/static/uk/wales/13013.stm David Davies| accessdate=1999-09-01]

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. [http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200506/cmhansrd/cm050518/debtext/50518-14.htm#50518-14_spnew3] 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..

He is a supporter of the Better Off Out campaign, and has been criticised by some, including Kevan Jones, for his views on the issue of immigration. [http://www.theyworkforyou.com/debates/?id=2007-11-15a.835.0&s=immigration+david+davies+xenophobic#g858.0] Despite their wide range of views, he is a good friend of RESPECT MP, George Galloway and frequently appears on his talkshow to speak with him on matters such as "Stop and Search".

References

External links

* [http://www.david-daviesmp.co.uk David Davies MP website]
* [http://daviddaviesam.blogspot.com/ David Davies AM] weblog
* [http://politics.guardian.co.uk/person/0,9290,-9295,00.html Guardian Unlimited Politics - Ask Aristotle: David Davies MP]
* [http://www.theyworkforyou.com/mp/david_davies/monmouth TheyWorkForYou.com - David Davies MP]
* [http://www.parliament.uk/parliamentary_committees/welsh_affairs_committee.cfm/ Web page of the Welsh Affairs Select Committee, House of Commons]
* [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/shared/mpdb/html/409.stm BBC Politics page]

News items

* [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/wales/6647455.stm Making an arrest in May 2007]
* [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/wales/6335749.stm Father dropped as candidate in February 2007]
* [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/wales/5051104.stm Burgled in June 2006]
* [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/wales/4323882.stm Looking at the possibility of registering himself as a Gypsy in October 2005]
* [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/wales/4222988.stm Criticising a grant for Gypsies in Hampshire in September 2005]
* [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/wales/3625515.stm Resigns from Welsh Assembly in April 2004]
* [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/wales/3589427.stm Walks out of Welsh Assembly meeting in April 2004]
* [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/wales/3487692.stm Commission for Racial Equality in February 2004]
* [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/wales/1512096.stm Beca Brown in August 2001]
* [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/wales/907971.stm Honouring seamen in September 2000]
* [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/wales/547266.stm Alison Halford thinks he has a nice bottom in December 1999]

Offices held