Ernest Davies (Labour MP for Enfield)
Encyclopedia
Ernest Albert John Davies (18 May 1902 – 16 September 1991) was a British
journalist, author and Labour Party
politician.
. Davies was educated at Wycliffe College
and the University of London
, graduating with a Diploma
in Journalism
. In 1922 he travelled to the United States
where he worked for a number of years. He married Natalie Rossin of New York
in 1926 and the couple had three children.
a weekly socialist
newspaper, and in 1932 became associate editor of its short-lived successor the New Clarion. From 1938 until 1940, he was the Governor for National Froebel Foundation (an educational foundation). From 1940– 1945 he worked for the BBC
, becoming its North American Service Organiser in 1944. In 1944 he divorced his first wife, marrying Peggy Yeo, with whom he had a daughter, in the same year.
He returned to journalism after he lost his seat in parliament, and was managing editor, Traffic Engineering and Control from 1960–76 and managing editor of Antique Finder from 1962–72.
in 1919 and the Labour Party
in 1924. At the 1935 general election
he was the party's candidate for the seat of Peterborough
, but failed to be elected.
With elections postponed due to World War II
, Davies did not contest another election until 1945
. He became member of parliament
for Enfield
, one of many new Labour MPs who were elected in a landslide victory. He was appointed parliamentary private secretary to Hector McNeil
, Minister of State at the Foreign Office.
Following boundary changes
, Davies was elected to the new constituency of Enfield East
at the 1950 general election
. He was briefly parliamentary under-secretary of state for Foreign Affairs under Ernest Bevan and Herbert Morrison
before Labour lost power at the 1951 general election
. He retired form parliament at the 1959 general election
.
The British Library of Political and Economic Science
has a collection of papers relating to his political work (dated from approximately 1935 to 1987)
British people
The British are citizens of the United Kingdom, of the Isle of Man, any of the Channel Islands, or of any of the British overseas territories, and their descendants...
journalist, author and 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...
politician.
Early life
Born in London, Davies was the son of Albert Emil Davies, a writer, lecturer and prominent Labour Party member of the London County CouncilLondon County Council
London County Council was the principal local government body for the County of London, throughout its 1889–1965 existence, and the first London-wide general municipal authority to be directly elected. It covered the area today known as Inner London and was replaced by the Greater London Council...
. Davies was educated at Wycliffe College
Wycliffe College (Gloucestershire)
Wycliffe College is a co-educational independent school located in the town of Stonehouse in Gloucestershire, in the West of England. The school was founded in 1882 by GW Sibly, and comprises a Nursery School for ages 2 – 4, a Preparatory School for ages 4 – 13, and a Senior School catering for...
and the University of London
University of London
-20th century:Shortly after 6 Burlington Gardens was vacated, the University went through a period of rapid expansion. Bedford College, Royal Holloway and the London School of Economics all joined in 1900, Regent's Park College, which had affiliated in 1841 became an official divinity school of the...
, graduating with a Diploma
Diploma
A diploma is a certificate or deed issued by an educational institution, such as a university, that testifies that the recipient has successfully completed a particular course of study or confers an academic degree. In countries such as the United Kingdom and Australia, the word diploma refers to...
in Journalism
Journalism
Journalism is the practice of investigation and reporting of events, issues and trends to a broad audience in a timely fashion. Though there are many variations of journalism, the ideal is to inform the intended audience. Along with covering organizations and institutions such as government and...
. In 1922 he travelled to the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
where he worked for a number of years. He married Natalie Rossin of New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
in 1926 and the couple had three children.
Journalism
From 1929 until 1932 Davies was editor of The ClarionThe Clarion
The Clarion was a weekly newspaper published by Robert Blatchford, based in the United Kingdom. It was a socialist publication though adopting a British-focused rather than internationalist perspective on political affairs, as seen in its support of the British involvement in the Anglo-Boer Wars...
a weekly socialist
Socialism
Socialism is an economic system characterized by social ownership of the means of production and cooperative management of the economy; or a political philosophy advocating such a system. "Social ownership" may refer to any one of, or a combination of, the following: cooperative enterprises,...
newspaper, and in 1932 became associate editor of its short-lived successor the New Clarion. From 1938 until 1940, he was the Governor for National Froebel Foundation (an educational foundation). From 1940– 1945 he worked for the BBC
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
, becoming its North American Service Organiser in 1944. In 1944 he divorced his first wife, marrying Peggy Yeo, with whom he had a daughter, in the same year.
He returned to journalism after he lost his seat in parliament, and was managing editor, Traffic Engineering and Control from 1960–76 and managing editor of Antique Finder from 1962–72.
Politics
Davies joined the Fabian SocietyFabian Society
The Fabian Society is a British socialist movement, whose purpose is to advance the principles of democratic socialism via gradualist and reformist, rather than revolutionary, means. It is best known for its initial ground-breaking work beginning late in the 19th century and continuing up to World...
in 1919 and 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...
in 1924. At the 1935 general election
United Kingdom general election, 1935
The United Kingdom general election held on 14 November 1935 resulted in a large, though reduced, majority for the National Government now led by Conservative Stanley Baldwin. The greatest number of MPs, as before, were Conservative, while the National Liberal vote held steady...
he was the party's candidate for the seat of Peterborough
Peterborough (UK Parliament constituency)
Peterborough is a borough constituency represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom, formally styled The Honourable the Commons of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland in Parliament assembled. It elects one Member of Parliament by the first past...
, but failed to be elected.
With elections postponed due to World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, Davies did not contest another election until 1945
United Kingdom general election, 1945
The United Kingdom general election of 1945 was a general election held on 5 July 1945, with polls in some constituencies delayed until 12 July and in Nelson and Colne until 19 July, due to local wakes weeks. The results were counted and declared on 26 July, due in part to the time it took to...
. He became 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,...
for Enfield
Enfield (UK Parliament constituency)
Enfield was a parliamentary constituency of Middlesex centred on the town of Enfield. The area formed part of the London conurbation. It returned one Member of Parliament to the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom, elected by the first past the post system.-History:The...
, one of many new Labour MPs who were elected in a landslide victory. He was appointed parliamentary private secretary to Hector McNeil
Hector McNeil
Hector McNeil PC was a Scottish Labour politician.McNeil was educated at Woodside School and the University of Glasgow, trained as an engineer and worked as a journalist on a Scottish national newspaper. He was a member of Glasgow Town Council 1932-8...
, Minister of State at the Foreign Office.
Following boundary changes
Representation of the People Act 1948
The Representation of the People Act 1948 was an Act of the Parliament of the United Kingdom that altered the law relating to parliamentary and local elections...
, Davies was elected to the new constituency of Enfield East
Enfield East (UK Parliament constituency)
Enfield East was a constituency which returned one Member of Parliament to the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. It was created for the 1950 general election and abolished for the February 1974 general election....
at the 1950 general election
United Kingdom general election, 1950
The 1950 United Kingdom general election was the first general election ever after a full term of a Labour government. Despite polling over one and a half million votes more than the Conservatives, the election, held on 23 February 1950 resulted in Labour receiving a slim majority of just five...
. He was briefly parliamentary under-secretary of state for Foreign Affairs under Ernest Bevan and Herbert Morrison
Herbert Morrison
Herbert Stanley Morrison, Baron Morrison of Lambeth, CH, PC was a British Labour politician; he held a various number of senior positions in the Cabinet, including Home Secretary, Foreign Secretary and Deputy Prime Minister.-Early life:Morrison was the son of a police constable and was born in...
before Labour lost power at the 1951 general election
United Kingdom general election, 1951
The 1951 United Kingdom general election was held eighteen months after the 1950 general election, which the Labour Party had won with a slim majority of just five seats...
. He retired form parliament at the 1959 general election
United Kingdom general election, 1959
This United Kingdom general election was held on 8 October 1959. It marked a third successive victory for the ruling Conservative Party, led by Harold Macmillan...
.
Publications
- Finance. How money is managed (Editor) (Odhams Press, London, 1935)
- How much Compensation? A problem of transfer from private to public enterprise (Victor Gollancz; New Fabian Research Bureau, London, 1937)
- "National" Capitalism: the government's record as protector of private monopoly (Victor Gollancz, London, 1939)
- The State and the Railways (Victor Gollancz; Fabian Society, London, 1940)
- American Labour: the story of the American trade union movement (George Allen & Unwin; Fabian Society, London, 1943)
- British Transport: a study in industrial organisation and control (Fabian Publications, [London,] 1945)
- National Enterprise: the development of the public corporation (Victor Gollancz, London, 1946)
- Nationalization of Transport (Labour Party, London, [1947])
- Problems of Public Ownership (Labour Party, London, [1952])
- Roads and their Traffic (Editor) (Blackie & Son, London & Glasgow, 1960).
- Britain's Transport Crisis: a socialist's view (Arthur Barker, [London, 1960])
- Traffic Engineering and Control (Managing Editor), 1960-76
- Transport in Greater London (London School of Economics and Political Science: [London,] 1962)
- Antique Finder (Managing Editor), 1962-72
- Traffic Engineering Practice (editor) (E. & F. N. Spon, London, 1963)
The British Library of Political and Economic Science
British Library of Political and Economic Science
The British Library of Political and Economic Science is the main library of theLondon School of Economics and Political Science, and the world's largest political and social sciences library .-Description:...
has a collection of papers relating to his political work (dated from approximately 1935 to 1987)