Edward Davey
Encyclopedia
Edward Jonathan "Ed" Davey (born 25 December 1965) is a British
Liberal Democrat politician. He has been the Member of Parliament
(MP) for Kingston and Surbiton since 1997, and in May 2010 was appointed as Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State at the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills
. Previously he was Chief of Staff to the former party leader, Sir Menzies Campbell.
, Nottinghamshire
. His father died when Davey was just four years old, and his mother eleven years later, following which he was brought up by his mother's parents. After attending senior school at the independent Nottingham High School
(as have other MPs - Kenneth Clarke
, Geoff Hoon
and Ed Balls
to name but three) in the year above Ed Balls, where he was head boy
in 1984, he furthered his education at Jesus College, Oxford
where he was awarded a first class BA
degree in Philosophy, Politics and Economics in 1988. Whilst at Oxford, he was also elected to the JCR presidency of Jesus College.
As a teenager he worked at Pork Farms pork pie
factory and at Boots. In 1989, he became an economics researcher for the Liberal Democrats (principally to Alan Beith
, the party's Treasury spokesman), whilst studying at Birkbeck College, London
for a master's degree
(MSc) in Economics. During that time he proposed making the Bank of England independent, a policy enacted by the Labour Party
following their election in May 1997. In 1993, he took up the position of management consultant with Omega Partners until being elected.
where he defeated the sitting Conservative
MP for the former constituency of Surbiton
Richard Tracey with a majority of just 56 votes and has remained the MP there since. He made his maiden speech
on 6 June 1997, in which he gave his support for the setting up of the London Assembly
, but against the idea of a directly elected Mayor of London
, he also talked about the effects governmental cuts was having on the education delivery in the London Borough of Kingston upon Thames.
and became the party's spokesman on Treasury Affairs
, adding the post of Whip
in 1998, and a third job to hold as the spokesman on London
from 2000.
Davey was re-elected in the 2001 general election
with an increased majority over former Conservative MP David Shaw
. He entered the Charles Kennedy
Liberal Democrat Shadow Cabinet
the same year by becoming Liberal Democrat shadow Chief Secretary to the Treasury
. In 2002 he became the Liberal Democrat Shadow of the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister. He was appointed Liberal Democrat Shadow Education and Skills Secretary
in 2005 before becoming Liberal Democrats Shadow Trade and Industry Secretary in March 2006. In December 2006, he succeeded Norman Lamb
as Chief of Staff to Sir Menzies Campbell, the party leader. Davey is Chair of the party's Campaigns and Communications Committee. Following Nick Clegg
's election as Leader of the Liberal Democrat Party, Davey was awarded the Foreign brief, and continued to retain his chairmanship of the party's Campaigns and Communications Committee.
On 26 February 2008, Davey was suspended from parliament
for the day for ignoring a warning from the deputy speaker. He was protesting about the exclusion by the speaker of a Liberal Democrat motion to debate and vote on whether the UK should have a referendum on staying in the EU.
At the 2009 Liberal Democrat conference, Davey caused controversy through declaring that it was 'time for tea with the Taliban.'
, after the 2010 General Election, Davey was appointed Parliamentary Under Secretary of State in the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills
. Davey has responsibility for Employment Relations, Consumer and Postal Affairs.
In 1995, before his election as an MP, he won a Royal Humane Society
bravery award and commendation from the Chief Constable
of the British Transport Police
for rescuing a woman who had fallen onto the train line in the face of on oncoming train at Clapham Junction station.
Edward married Emily Gasson (Lib Dem candidate in North Dorset) in summer 2005 and their first child, a son John Alban Davey, was born in December 2007. They live in Surbiton
and Shaftesbury
.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
Liberal Democrat politician. He has been the Member of Parliament
Member of Parliament
A Member of Parliament is a representative of the voters to a :parliament. In many countries with bicameral parliaments, the term applies specifically to members of the lower house, as upper houses often have a different title, such as senate, and thus also have different titles for its members,...
(MP) for Kingston and Surbiton since 1997, and in May 2010 was appointed as Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State at the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills
Department for Business, Innovation and Skills
The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills is a ministerial department of the United Kingdom Government created on 5 June 2009 by the merger of the Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills and the Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform .-Ministers:The BIS...
. Previously he was Chief of Staff to the former party leader, Sir Menzies Campbell.
Early life
The son of a solicitor father and teacher mother, Edward Davey was born in Annesley WoodhouseAnnesley Woodhouse
Annesley Woodhouse is a village in Nottinghamshire, England, located approximately 10 miles north of the City of Nottingham and 6 miles south of Mansfield, close to Junction 27 of the M1. With a current population of around 3.500, it originated as a farming community and expanded in the 19th and...
, Nottinghamshire
Nottinghamshire
Nottinghamshire is a county in the East Midlands of England, bordering South Yorkshire to the north-west, Lincolnshire to the east, Leicestershire to the south, and Derbyshire to the west...
. His father died when Davey was just four years old, and his mother eleven years later, following which he was brought up by his mother's parents. After attending senior school at the independent Nottingham High School
Nottingham High School
Nottingham High School is a British boys' independent school situated about a mile north of Nottingham city centre. It has around 900 pupils from ages 11 to 18 and there is the adjoining Nottingham High Junior School catering for younger boys and, from September 2008, the Lovell House...
(as have other MPs - Kenneth Clarke
Kenneth Clarke
Kenneth Harry "Ken" Clarke, QC, MP is a British Conservative politician, currently Member of Parliament for Rushcliffe, Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice. He was first elected to Parliament in 1970; and appointed a minister in Edward Heath's government, in 1972, and is one of...
, Geoff Hoon
Geoff Hoon
Geoffrey "Geoff" William Hoon is a British politician who served as the Member of Parliament for Ashfield from 1992 to 2010...
and Ed Balls
Ed Balls
Edward Michael Balls, known as Ed Balls, is a British Labour politician, who has been a Member of Parliament since 2005, currently for Morley and Outwood, and is the current Shadow Chancellor of the Exchequer....
to name but three) in the year above Ed Balls, where he was head boy
Head boy
Head Boy and Head Girl are terms commonly used in the British education system, and in private schools throughout the Commonwealth.-United Kingdom:...
in 1984, he furthered his education at Jesus College, Oxford
Jesus College, Oxford
Jesus College is one of the colleges of the University of Oxford in England. It is in the centre of the city, on a site between Turl Street, Ship Street, Cornmarket Street and Market Street...
where he was awarded a first class BA
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
degree in Philosophy, Politics and Economics in 1988. Whilst at Oxford, he was also elected to the JCR presidency of Jesus College.
As a teenager he worked at Pork Farms pork pie
Pork pie
A pork pie is a traditional British meat pie. It consists of roughly chopped pork and pork jelly sealed in a hot water crust pastry . It is normally eaten cold as a snack or as part of a meal.-Types:...
factory and at Boots. In 1989, he became an economics researcher for the Liberal Democrats (principally to Alan Beith
Alan Beith
Sir Alan James Beith is a British Liberal Democrat politician and Member of Parliament for Berwick-upon-Tweed.-Early life:Alan Beith was born in 1943 in Poynton, in Cheshire...
, the party's Treasury spokesman), whilst studying at Birkbeck College, London
Birkbeck, University of London
Birkbeck, University of London is a public research university located in London, United Kingdom and a constituent college of the federal University of London. It offers many Master's and Bachelor's degree programmes that can be studied either part-time or full-time, though nearly all teaching is...
for a master's degree
Master's degree
A master's is an academic degree granted to individuals who have undergone study demonstrating a mastery or high-order overview of a specific field of study or area of professional practice...
(MSc) in Economics. During that time he proposed making the Bank of England independent, a policy enacted by the Labour Party
Labour Party (UK)
The Labour Party is a centre-left democratic socialist party in the United Kingdom. It surpassed the Liberal Party in general elections during the early 1920s, forming minority governments under Ramsay MacDonald in 1924 and 1929-1931. The party was in a wartime coalition from 1940 to 1945, after...
following their election in May 1997. In 1993, he took up the position of management consultant with Omega Partners until being elected.
Member of Parliament
Edward Davey was elected to the House of Commons at his first attempt at the 1997 General ElectionUnited Kingdom general election, 1997
The United Kingdom general election, 1997 was held on 1 May 1997, more than five years after the previous election on 9 April 1992, to elect 659 members to the British House of Commons. The Labour Party ended its 18 years in opposition under the leadership of Tony Blair, and won the general...
where he defeated the sitting Conservative
Conservative Party (UK)
The Conservative Party, formally the Conservative and Unionist Party, is a centre-right political party in the United Kingdom that adheres to the philosophies of conservatism and British unionism. It is the largest political party in the UK, and is currently the largest single party in the House...
MP for the former constituency of Surbiton
Surbiton
Surbiton, a suburban area of London in the Royal Borough of Kingston upon Thames, is situated next to the River Thames, with a mixture of Art-Deco courts, more recent residential blocks and grand, spacious 19th century townhouses blending into a sea of semi-detached 20th century housing estates...
Richard Tracey with a majority of just 56 votes and has remained the MP there since. He made his maiden speech
Maiden speech
A maiden speech is the first speech given by a newly elected or appointed member of a legislature or parliament.Traditions surrounding maiden speeches vary from country to country...
on 6 June 1997, in which he gave his support for the setting up of the London Assembly
London Assembly
The London Assembly is an elected body, part of the Greater London Authority, that scrutinises the activities of the Mayor of London and has the power, with a two-thirds majority, to amend the mayor's annual budget. The assembly was established in 2000 and is headquartered at City Hall on the south...
, but against the idea of a directly elected Mayor of London
Mayor of London
The Mayor of London is an elected politician who, along with the London Assembly of 25 members, is accountable for the strategic government of Greater London. Conservative Boris Johnson has held the position since 4 May 2008...
, he also talked about the effects governmental cuts was having on the education delivery in the London Borough of Kingston upon Thames.
Lib Dems Shadow Cabinet
In parliament Davey was given a job immediately by Paddy AshdownPaddy Ashdown
Jeremy John Durham Ashdown, Baron Ashdown of Norton-sub-Hamdon, GCMG, KBE, PC , usually known as Paddy Ashdown, is a British politician and diplomat....
and became the party's spokesman on Treasury Affairs
HM Treasury
HM Treasury, in full Her Majesty's Treasury, informally The Treasury, is the United Kingdom government department responsible for developing and executing the British government's public finance policy and economic policy...
, adding the post of Whip
Whip (politics)
A whip is an official in a political party whose primary purpose is to ensure party discipline in a legislature. Whips are a party's "enforcers", who typically offer inducements and threaten punishments for party members to ensure that they vote according to the official party policy...
in 1998, and a third job to hold as the spokesman on London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
from 2000.
Davey was re-elected in the 2001 general election
United Kingdom general election, 2001
The United Kingdom general election, 2001 was held on Thursday 7 June 2001 to elect 659 members to the British House of Commons. It was dubbed "the quiet landslide" by the media, as the Labour Party was re-elected with another landslide result and only suffered a net loss of 6 seats...
with an increased majority over former Conservative MP David Shaw
David Shaw (UK politician)
David Lawrence Shaw is a British former Member of Parliament . He was the Conservative Member for Dover from the 1987 general election until the 1997 election, when he lost the seat to Gwyn Prosser of Labour...
. He entered the Charles Kennedy
Charles Kennedy
Charles Peter Kennedy is a British Liberal Democrat politician, who led the Liberal Democrats from 9 August 1999 until 7 January 2006 and is currently a Member of Parliament for the Ross, Skye and Lochaber constituency....
Liberal Democrat Shadow Cabinet
Shadow Cabinet
The Shadow Cabinet is a senior group of opposition spokespeople in the Westminster system of government who together under the leadership of the Leader of the Opposition form an alternative cabinet to the government's, whose members shadow or mark each individual member of the government...
the same year by becoming Liberal Democrat shadow Chief Secretary to the Treasury
Chief Secretary to the Treasury
The Chief Secretary to the Treasury is the third most senior ministerial position in HM Treasury, after the Prime Minister and the Chancellor of the Exchequer . In recent years, the office holder has usually been given a junior position in the British Cabinet...
. In 2002 he became the Liberal Democrat Shadow of the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister. He was appointed Liberal Democrat Shadow Education and Skills Secretary
Secretary of State for Education and Skills
The Secretary of State for Education is the chief minister of the Department for Education in the United Kingdom government. The position was re-established on 12 May 2010, held by Michael Gove....
in 2005 before becoming Liberal Democrats Shadow Trade and Industry Secretary in March 2006. In December 2006, he succeeded Norman Lamb
Norman Lamb
Norman Peter Lamb is a British Liberal Democrat politician, and Chief Parliamentary and Political Adviser and Parliamentary Private Secretary to the Deputy Prime Minister, Nick Clegg.He is the Member of Parliament for North Norfolk....
as Chief of Staff to Sir Menzies Campbell, the party leader. Davey is Chair of the party's Campaigns and Communications Committee. Following Nick Clegg
Nick Clegg
Nicholas William Peter "Nick" Clegg is a British Liberal Democrat politician who is currently the Deputy Prime Minister, Lord President of the Council and Minister for Constitutional and Political Reform in the coalition government of which David Cameron is the Prime Minister...
's election as Leader of the Liberal Democrat Party, Davey was awarded the Foreign brief, and continued to retain his chairmanship of the party's Campaigns and Communications Committee.
On 26 February 2008, Davey was suspended from parliament
Suspension from the UK parliament
In the Parliament of the United Kingdom, Members of Parliament can be suspended from sitting in the House of Commons by the Speaker for "disorderly conduct"....
for the day for ignoring a warning from the deputy speaker. He was protesting about the exclusion by the speaker of a Liberal Democrat motion to debate and vote on whether the UK should have a referendum on staying in the EU.
At the 2009 Liberal Democrat conference, Davey caused controversy through declaring that it was 'time for tea with the Taliban.'
Ministerial career
Following the Conservative – Liberal Democrat Coalition AgreementConservative – Liberal Democrat Coalition Agreement
The Conservative – Liberal Democrat Coalition Agreement was a policy document drawn up following the 2010 general election in the United Kingdom...
, after the 2010 General Election, Davey was appointed Parliamentary Under Secretary of State in the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills
Department for Business, Innovation and Skills
The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills is a ministerial department of the United Kingdom Government created on 5 June 2009 by the merger of the Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills and the Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform .-Ministers:The BIS...
. Davey has responsibility for Employment Relations, Consumer and Postal Affairs.
Personal life
Edward Davey was responsible for introducing the Liberal Democrat policy of penny on income tax to pay for education in 1997. He was one of the contributors to the Orange Book (2004).In 1995, before his election as an MP, he won a Royal Humane Society
Royal Humane Society
The Royal Humane Society is a British charity which promotes lifesaving intervention. It was founded in England in 1774 as the Society for the Recovery of Persons Apparently Drowned, for the purpose of rendering first aid in cases of near drowning....
bravery award and commendation from the Chief Constable
Chief Constable
Chief constable is the rank used by the chief police officer of every territorial police force in the United Kingdom except for the City of London Police and the Metropolitan Police, as well as the chief officers of the three 'special' national police forces, the British Transport Police, Ministry...
of the British Transport Police
British Transport Police
The British Transport Police is a special police force that polices those railways and light-rail systems in Great Britain for which it has entered into an agreement to provide such services...
for rescuing a woman who had fallen onto the train line in the face of on oncoming train at Clapham Junction station.
Edward married Emily Gasson (Lib Dem candidate in North Dorset) in summer 2005 and their first child, a son John Alban Davey, was born in December 2007. They live in Surbiton
Surbiton
Surbiton, a suburban area of London in the Royal Borough of Kingston upon Thames, is situated next to the River Thames, with a mixture of Art-Deco courts, more recent residential blocks and grand, spacious 19th century townhouses blending into a sea of semi-detached 20th century housing estates...
and Shaftesbury
Shaftesbury
Shaftesbury is a town in Dorset, England, situated on the A30 road near the Wiltshire border 20 miles west of Salisbury. The town is built 718 feet above sea level on the side of a chalk and greensand hill, which is part of Cranborne Chase, the only significant hilltop settlement in Dorset...
.
Publications
- Making MPs Work For Our Money: Reforming Parliament's Role In Budget Scrutiny by Edward Davey, 2000, Centre for Reform, ISBN 1-902622-21-9
- "Liberalism and localism", Chapter 2 in The Orange Book: Reclaiming Liberalism by David Laws and Paul Marshall (contributions et al.), 2004, Profile Books, ISBN 1-86197-797-2
External links
- Edward Davey MP Official site
- Profile at the Liberal Democrats
- Profile: Edward Davey BBC NewsBBC NewsBBC News is the department of the British Broadcasting Corporation responsible for the gathering and broadcasting of news and current affairs. The department is the world's largest broadcast news organisation and generates about 120 hours of radio and television output each day, as well as online...
profile 17 October 2007