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Ed Davey

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The Right Honourable
Sir Ed Davey
MPFRSA
Official portrait, 2020
Leader of the Liberal Democrats
Assumed office
27 August 2020
Acting: 13 December 2019 – 27 August 2020[a]
DeputyDaisy Cooper
PresidentThe Baroness Brinton
Mark Pack
Preceded byJo Swinson
Deputy Leader of the Liberal Democrats
In office
3 September 2019 – 27 August 2020
LeaderJo Swinson
Himself(acting)
The Baroness Brinton(acting)
Mark Pack(acting)
Preceded byJo Swinson
Succeeded byDaisy Cooper
Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change
In office
3 February 2012 – 8 May 2015
Prime MinisterDavid Cameron
Preceded byChris Huhne
Succeeded byAmber Rudd
Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Employment Relations and Consumer Affairs
In office
20 May 2010 – 3 February 2012
Prime MinisterDavid Cameron
Preceded byThe Lord Young of Norwood Green
Succeeded byNorman Lamb
Member of Parliament
forKingston and Surbiton
Assumed office
8 June 2017
Preceded byJames Berry
Majority17,235 (34.1%)
In office
1 May 1997 – 30 March 2015
Preceded byConstituency established
Succeeded byJames Berry
Liberal Democrat portfolios
2005–2006Education and Skills
2006–2007Trade and Industry
2007–2010Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs
2017–2019Home Affairs
2019Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
2019–2020Treasury
Personal details
Born
Edward Jonathan Davey

(1965-12-25)25 December 1965(age 58)
Mansfield,Nottinghamshire, England
Political partyLiberal Democrats
Spouse
Emily Gasson
​
(m.2005)​
Children2[1]
Education
Signature
Websitewww.eddavey.orgEdit this at Wikidata

Sir Edward Jonathan DaveyFRSA(born 25 December 1965) is a British politician who is theLeader of the Liberal Democratssince 2020, having acted in the position from 2019 to 2020.[a]He served in theCameron–Clegg coalitionasSecretary of State for Energy and Climate Changefrom 2012 to 2015 and asdeputy leadertoJo Swinsonin 2019. An "Orange Book"liberal, Davey has beenMember of Parliament(MP) forKingston and Surbitonsince 2017, previously holding the seat from 1997 to 2015.[2][3]

Davey was born inMansfield,Nottinghamshire. After both his parents died before he was 16, Davey was raised by his grandparents, and subsequently attendedNottingham High School.He then went on to study atJesus College, Oxford,andBirkbeck, University of London.He was an economics researcher andfinancial analystbefore being elected to theHouse of Commons.Davey served as aLiberal Democrat spokespersontoCharles Kennedy,Menzies CampbellandNick Cleggfrom 2005 to 2010, in various portfolios includingEducation and Skills,Trade and Industry,andForeign and Commonwealth Affairs.

In 2010, after the Liberal Democrats entered into acoalition governmentwith theConservative Party,Davey served asParliamentary Under-Secretary of StateforEmployment Relations, Consumer and Postal Affairsfrom 2010 to 2012,[4]and inDavid Cameron'sCabinetasSecretary of State for Energy and Climate Changefrom 2012 to 2015, followingChris Huhne's resignation.[5]Davey focused on increasing competition in the energy market by removingbarriers to entryfor smaller companies, and streamlining thecustomer switchingprocess.[6]He also approved the construction ofHinkley Point C nuclear power station.[7]Davey did not investigate the details of theHorizon Post Office scandalthat had led to the wrongful prosecution of hundreds of sub-postmasters. He was, however, the only Post Office minister to meetAlan Bates,the founder of the Justice for Subpostmasters Alliance. Following criticism in 2024, Davey expressed regret and said that he had been misled byPost Officeofficials.

Davey lost his seat in the2015 general electionand wasknightedin the2016 New Years Honours Listfor political and public service. He regained his seat in the2017 general election,and served as theLiberal Democrat Home Affairs spokespersonfrom 2017 to 2019. In July 2019, after the retirement ofVince Cable,Davey unsuccessfully ran against Jo Swinson in aleadership election,and was later appointedLiberal Democrat Treasury spokespersonandelected unopposedasDeputy leader of the Liberal Democrats.After Swinson lost her seat at the2019 general election,Davey, while remaining Deputy Leader, served as Acting Leader alongside theLiberal Democrat PresidentsBaroness BrintonandMark Packfrom December 2019 to August 2020.[8][9]

Davey stood in the2020 leadership election,in which he defeatedLayla Moranwith 63.5% of the vote. In his leadership bid he said he would prioritise defeating the Conservatives and ruled out working with them following the2024 general election.Under Davey's leadership, the Liberal Democrats have made gains in local elections alongsideLabour,with both parties making gains in the2024 local elections,where the Liberal Democrats finished second for the first time in a local election cycle since 2009. In the2024 general electionDavey led his party to both their highest ever number of seats and the highest number of seats for a third party since1923,and was noted, with praise and criticism, for his campaign stunts.

Early life and career[edit]

This article is part of
a series about
Ed Davey

Edward Davey was born on 25 December 1965 inMansfield,Nottinghamshire.[10][11]His father John (1932–March 1970), a solicitor, died when Davey was four years old in Mansfield General Hospital, three months after being diagnosed with cancer.[12][13]His mother, Nina Davey (née Stanbrook), died 11 years later, after which he was brought up by his maternal grandparents in the village ofEakring.[14]Davey acted as a carer for his terminally ill mother before her death, and also cared for his grandmother.[15]

Davey was in both the 90th Nottingham Scout group[16]and the 17th NottinghamAir Scoutgroup.[17]He sang in the local church choir, St John's.[18]Like his two brothers, Davey received the Duke of Edinburgh's Gold Award, meeting Prince Philip on 2 March 1984 when the Prince visited his school, the privateNottingham High School,where Davey was head boy.[19]He took A-levels in German, French and History.[20]One of his two brothers attendedTrent Polytechnic,becoming a solicitor.[21]After leaving school, Davey attendedJesus College, Oxford,[22]where he was awarded a first classBAdegree inPhilosophy, politics and economicsin 1988.[14]He wasJCR President.[14]

In 1989, he became an economics researcher for theLiberal Democrats,[22]principally toAlan Beith,[14]the party's then-Treasury spokesman, whilst studying atBirkbeck College, London,[22]for amaster's degree(MSc) in economics.[14]He was closely involved in the development of Liberal Democrat policies such as an additional penny on income tax to fund education, andcentral bank independence,for the1992 general election.[23]From 1993 to 1997, he worked inbusiness forecastingandmarket analysisformanagement consultancyfirm Omega Partners.[24]

Parliamentary career (1997–2015)[edit]

Davey was elected to theHouse of Commons,at his first attempt, in the1997 general election,where he defeatedRichard Tracey,the sittingConservativeMP for the former constituency ofSurbiton,with a majority of just 56 votes, and remained the seat's MP for 18 years.[25]In hismaiden speech,on 6 June 1997, he gave his support for the setting up of theLondon Assembly,but was against the idea of a directly electedMayor of London;he also spoke of the effects governmental cuts were having on education delivery in theRoyal Borough of Kingston upon Thames.[26]

In 1998, he was the primary sponsor of anearly day motionsupporting the repeal of theGreenwich judgment,which prevents local authorities from giving their own residents priority access to school places.[27]

In 2001, he opposed government proposals for restrictions ongambling machines,which he described as a "silly bit ofnanny statepolitics ".[28][29][30]

In January 2003, Davey publicly backed local constituent andNHSwhistleblowerIan Perkin, who alleged he had been sacked from his director of finance role for exposing statistics manipulation atSt George's NHS healthcare trust.[31][32]Davey condemned the NHS bureaucracy as "Stalinist"and called for an inquiry into Perkin's case,[33][34]while personally meeting trust executives to discuss the case on behalf of Perkin.[35]

In February 2003, Davey introduced the clause which repealed the prohibition of "promotion of homosexuality" underSection 28of theLocal Government Act 1988.[36]The legislation was repealed in March.[37]He was one of the contributors toThe Orange Book(2004).[25]

In 2006, Davey was one of eight Liberal Democrat MPs, includingJeremy BrowneandMark Oaten,who opposed a total ban on smoking in clubs and pubs.[38]He called the ban "a bit too nanny state".[39][40]

In an article for theFinancial Timesin 2007, Davey andLSEeconomistTim Leunigproposed a new system of community land auctions throughsealed bidswith a new tax, to take place before the land was givenplanning permission.They suggested that councils could take in tax the difference between the land owner'sasking priceand the highest bidder's offer, claiming this would stimulatedevelopmentand the revenue then used to lower other taxation.[41][42]

Lib Dem spokesperson[edit]

Davey in 2008

Following Davey's election to parliament in 1997, he was appointed as the Lib Dem's spokesman onTreasury Affairs.He added the post ofwhipin 1998, and as the spokesman on London from 2000.

Davey was re-elected in the2001 general election,increasing his share of the vote from 36.7% to 60.2%. He increased his majority from just 56 to 15,676, beating former Conservative MPDavid Shaw.He joined the Liberal Democrat frontbench under LeaderCharles Kennedyin the same year when he was appointed the party's spokesperson forTreasury matters.In 2002, he became the Liberal Democrat spokesperson for theOffice of the Deputy Prime Minister.He was appointed spokesperson forEducation and Skillsin 2005, before becoming spokesperson forTrade and Industryin March 2006. In December 2006, he succeededNorman Lambas Chief of Staff toMenzies Campbell,the new party leader.[25]Davey was chair of the party's Campaigns and Communications Committee. FollowingNick Clegg's election as Leader of the Liberal Democrats, Davey was awarded the Foreign Affairs brief, and continued to retain his chairmanship of the party's Campaigns and Communications Committee.[14]

On 26 February 2008, Davey wassuspended from parliamentfor 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 theUK should have a referendum on staying in the EU.[43]

At the 2009 Liberal Democrat conference, Davey caused controversy by calling for dialogue with theTaliban,through declaring that it was "time for tea with the Taliban",[44]a comment echoed byMalala Yousafzaifour years later to the BBC.[45]

Ministerial career (2010–2015)[edit]

Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Business (2010–2012)[edit]

Davey's portrait as Minister for Employment Relations, circa 2012

Following theConservative–Liberal Democrat coalition agreement,after the2010 general election,Davey was appointedParliamentary Under Secretary of Statein theDepartment for Business, Innovation and Skills[46][47]with responsibility for Employment Relations, Consumer and Postal Affairs.[48][49]In addition, he was appointed as theMinister of State for Trade Policy.[50][51][52]As aParliamentary Under Secretary,Davey led the establishment of an unofficial 'like-minded group for growth'ginger groupwithin theEuropean Union,convening several economically liberal European governments behind an agenda ofderegulation,free trade,liberalisationofservicesand adigital single market.[53][54][55][56][57]He was involved in the provisional application phase of the Free Trade Agreement between the EU and South Korea.[58][59][60]

In January 2011, he faced protests bypostal workersin his Kingston and Surbiton constituency for his role in the privatisation ofRoyal Mail.[61]Also in 2011, Davey announced several reforms to thelabour market,mainly aimed at improvinglabour market flexibility.These reforms included cuts tored tapeand easing dismissal laws, and were accompanied by reviews from theInstitute of Economic Affairsinto compensation payments and theTUPE.Davey also announced that the government would abolish the default retirement age.[62][63][64][65]

As Minister for Postal Affairs, Davey did not investigate the details of theHorizon Post Office scandalthat had led to the wrongful prosecution of hundreds of sub-postmasters. He was, however, the only Post Office minister to meetAlan Bates,the founder of the Justice for Subpostmasters Alliance, with this meeting taking place in October 2010.[66][67][68]Following criticism in 2024, Davey expressed regret and said that he had been misled byPost Officeofficials.[69][70]FollowingPaula Vennells's decision to hand back herCBEover her role during the scandal, Davey came under pressure to return his knighthood because of his role during it.[71]However, Davey said he was "completely surprised" as to why the Conservatives had awarded Vennells a CBE in 2019.[66]

Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change (2012–2015)[edit]

Davey as Energy Secretary (right) with Prime Minister of JapanShinzō Abe,2014
Davey atChatham House,2012

On 3 February 2012, following the resignation ofSecretary of State for Energy and Climate ChangeChris Huhne,Davey was appointedSecretary of State for Energy and Climate Change,and appointed to thePrivy Councilon 8 February.[72]As Secretary of State Davey also became a member of theNational Security Council.In late 2012, theDaily Mailpublished an article questioning Davey's loyalty to Clegg. Responding in an interview, Davey rejected the claims of the article, saying instead he thought Clegg was "the best leader" the Liberal Democrats had ever had and that he personally was a member of Clegg's "Praetorian Guard".[73]

In 2013, Davey set up the Green Growth Group, bringing together environmental and climate ministers from across theEuropean Unionin an effort to promote growth, investment in renewable andnuclear energy,liberalisation of the European energy market, a globalcarbon market,trade in energy,carbon capturetechnology,energy efficiency,and competition.[56][74][75][76][77][78]Domestically, Davey focused on increasing competition in the energy market by removingbarriers to entryfor smaller companies, and streamlining thecustomer switchingprocess, declaring in 2013 that "competition works".[79][80]Abroad, Davey promoted investment in the British energy sector by foreign companies from countries such asJapan,South Korea,andChina,making significant diplomatic trips to the latter two countries in order to highlight investment opportunities.[81][82][83][84]

In October 2013, during a BBCNewsnightsegment on energy bills, Davey was asked by BBC presenterJeremy Paxmanwhether or not he wore ajumper(to stay warm) at home, to which Davey replied that he did but stressed that competition and energy efficiency were the solutions to lowering energy bills. The following day, various media outlets reported that Davey had advised for people to wear jumpers at home to save on energy bills, although he had not. The controversy then spread when Prime MinisterDavid Cameron's official spokesman told a reporter that people may wish to "consider" advice by charities to wrap up warmly, leading to media outlets reporting thatNumber 10was also suggesting wearing jumpers to cut energy bills, with the supposed suggestion being seized upon by the opposition Labour Party. Number 10 later issued a statement rebutting the media reports.[85][86][87][88][89][90][91][92]In April 2014, Davey called for theG7to begin reduction of dependency onRussian energyfollowing theRevolution of Dignityand commencement of theRusso-Ukrainian War.[93]Davey argued the benefits of investment inonshore windenergy from companies such asSiemenswas a key part of the push to reduce dependence on Russian energy,[94]while "more diversified supplies of gas" includingfrom the USand domesticshale gaswould also help.[95]In May 2014 at a meeting in Rome, G7 energy ministers including Davey agreed formally to a process for reducing dependency on Russian energy; "Putinhas crossed a line ", Davey declared.[96]

Throughout and after the coalition, Davey's ministerial career came under scrutiny from political figures and the media. On the right, ConservativesNigel LawsonandPeter Lilleywere critical of Davey's environmental stances,[97][98]and he was lampooned byThe Telegraphsketch writerMichael Deacon.[99]He was also criticised by left-wing figures such asGreenMP forBrighton PavilionCaroline Lucasover his support offracking,[100]and by the Leader of the Opposition and Leader of theLabour PartyEd Milibandfor Davey's warning that Labour's price control policy would causeblackouts.[101]Luxembourgish MEP and environmentalistClaude Turmesalleged in his 2017 bookEnergy Transformationthat Davey's Green Growth Group was actually a front for British nuclear interests.[75]Conversely, Davey's promotion to the role of Energy Secretary was hailed byThe Economist,which viewed him favourably as a "pragmatic" and "free marketliberal ".[102]In "The Liberal Democrats and supply-side economics", published in an issue of theInstitute of Economic Affairs'Economic Affairsjournal, Davey was identified as the Liberal Democrat who had achieved the most in terms ofsupply-sidereforms.[103]Conservative MP and formerChancellor of the Duchy of Lancasterand Minister of State for Government PolicyOliver Letwincredited Davey and his "like-minded" group of economically liberal governments as having helped to curb regulatory enthusiasm within the European Union.[57]

Leading up to the2015 general election,Davey was viewed by various sources as a potential successor to Clegg.[104][105][106][107]Political commentatorGary Gibbonspeculated that due to Davey's association with the Orange Book wing of the party, the tenuousness ofDanny Alexander's parliamentary seat, andDavid Laws' unwillingness, the role of "heir" would naturally fall to Davey.[108][109]

Parliamentary career (2017–present)[edit]

2015 general election[edit]

Official portrait, 2017

At the 2015 general election, Davey was defeated byConservativecandidateJames Berryby 2,834 votes after the Liberal Democrat vote fell by over 15% in Kingston and Surbiton. This made him the first cabinet minister to lose their seat sinceMichael Portilloin1997.[110]Davey later told reporters he was "obviously disappointed" with his defeat, but said it had not been a total shock. "We knew it would be close – we had it written on our leaflets. But I don't think the voters did, he said." When I was out canvassing today I had a man said to me: 'You'll be fine, Ed'. I wish I had a vote for all the people who told me I would be fine. The party is clearly paying some price for going into coalition with the Conservatives. We put the national interest above the party interest which was the right thing to do at the time. I have no regrets on that. I think we are seeing a national thing here. We have had a very bad night nationally. "[111]

At the end of 2015, he accepted aknighthoodfor 'political and public service' which was announced in the2016 New Years Honours List.[112]

Return to Parliament[edit]

Davey regained Kingston and Surbiton for the Liberal Democrats at the2017 general election,with a majority of 4,124 votes over Berry.[113]Upon his return to Parliament, Davey was considered a possible candidate for theLiberal Democrat leadership electionfollowing the resignation ofTim Farron.However, he ruled out standing over family concerns, but called on the Liberal Democrats to be "the party of reform" and "super-ambitious – just likeradical centristsin Canada, France and the Netherlands ".[114]Davey was then theLiberal Democrat Treasury spokesperson,having previously served asLiberal Democrat Home Affairs spokespersonfrom 2017 to 2019.[115]

He is the Chair of the All-Party Britain-Republic of KoreaParliamentary Group(APPG).[116]He is also the Chair of the APPG on Charity Retail, the Vice Chair of the APPG for theAhmadiyyaMuslim Community, and the Vice Chair of the APPG on Land Value Capture.[117][118][119]

Leader of the Liberal Democrats (2019–present)[edit]

2019 leadership bid[edit]

Following the2019 European Parliament election,Liberal Democrat leader SirVince Cableannounced his intention "to hand over a bigger, stronger party" to a new leader, triggering aparty leadership contest.[120]Davey announced his candidacy for the role on 30 May, stating his belief that action must be taken in Parliament to prevent a"no deal" Brexit,and highlighting his support for stronger action to limitglobal warming.[121][122]Davey lost this race toJo Swinson,with 36.9% of the vote to Swinson's 63.1%.[123]On 3 September 2019, Davey was elected as Swinson's deputy leader.[124][125]

2019 general election and acting co-leadership[edit]

Following Jo Swinson's resignation as a result of losing her seat inthe 2019 general election,Davey became interim co-leader alongside the party president (at first Baroness Brinton, and then Mark Pack).

2020 leadership bid[edit]

Main article:2020 Liberal Democrats leadership election
Davey's leadership bid logo

In June 2020, whilst acting leader, Davey launched his bid to become leader saying that his "experience as a carer can help rebuild Britain after coronavirus".[126]He proposed the establishment of abasic incometo support carers, and said that the Liberal Democrats should be "the party of social care".[57][127][128]Davey ruled out a formal electoral agreement with the Labour Party, but said that he would prioritise defeating the Conservatives, and ruled out working with the Conservatives following the next election.[57][129]He proposed a plan to reducecarbon emissionsfrom domestic flights to zero by 2030 through investment in research and technology.[130]In a hustings event with Welsh members, he said that the2021 Senedd electionwas a priority and he expected success for the Liberal Democrats.[75]

Davey was one of two candidates running for leader in the Liberal Democrats leadership election, competing withLayla Moran.One recurring theme of the leadership campaign was Davey's record in the Cameron-Clegg coalition government, and the policies that government had enacted. Moran is considered to be more left-wing than Davey and representing a break from the coalition years.[131][132]Alongside Clegg and many of the Liberal Democrats who served in the governing Conservative-Lib Dem coalition of 2010–2015, Davey is associated with the party's right-wingOrange Bookerbranch. The record of the coalition, which caused a decline in popularity of the Liberal Democrats after 2015, has been defended by Davey.[133]

On 27 August, Davey won the leadership election with 42,756 votes, which translated to 63.5% of total votes. In his victory speech, Davey said that the Liberal Democrats must "wake up and smell the coffee" and "start listening" to ordinary people and those who "don't believe we share their values". He also stressed his experience in the coalition government, and his commitments to tackleclimate change.Moran later congratulated Davey onTwitter,saying "I look forward to working with him to campaign for a better future for Britain."[134][135]

Under Davey's leadership, the Liberal Democrats have made gains in local elections alongside Labour, with both parties making gains in the 2023 local elections and made further gains in the 2024 local elections, where the Liberal Democrats finished second for the first time in a local election cycle since2009.[136]

2024 general election campaign stunts and seat victories[edit]

Main article:2024 United Kingdom general election

This general election is a chance to kick Rishi Sunak’s appalling Conservative government out of office and deliver the change the public is crying out for. For years the Conservative Party has taken voters for granted and lurched from crisis to crisis while the problems facing the country are getting so much worse. Every vote for the Liberal Democrats at this election is a vote for a strong local champion who will stand up for your community and health services. It’s clear that in many seats across the country, the best way to beat the Conservatives is to vote for the Liberal Democrats.

— Ed Davey after the general election was called, May 2024
Davey speaking duringPrime Minister's Questions,7 February 2024

Davey led his party in the2024 general election,and was noted, with praise and criticism, for his campaign stunts.[137]When visitingWindermere,Davey fell off hispaddleboard,whilst campaigning to highlight the political issue ofsewage discharge in the United Kingdom.[138]A couple of days later, Davey won high-profile media attention when going down aSlip 'N Slide,whilst drawing attention to deterioratingmental health among children.When visitingEastbourne,Davey did a bungee jump, asking people to "take the plunge" and vote Liberal Democrat.[139]When asked about these stunts, Davey said: "Politicians need to take the concerns and interests of voters seriously but I'm not sure they need to take themselves seriously all the time and I'm quite happy to have some fun".[140]

On 10 June 2024, Davey launched the Liberal Democratmanifesto,titledFor a Fair Deal,in London.[141]He stressed that the Lib Dems are a "pro-European party"; the manifesto includes a promise for the UK to rejoin theEuropean single market.[142]Midway through the campaign, opinion pollstersYouGovfound that 35% of Liberal Democrat voters did not recognise a photograph of Davey.[143]Amid thegeneral election betting scandal,Davey, whilst admitting that he had previously bet on the outcome of elections, called for a review of gambling laws.[144]

Davey led his party to both their highest ever number of seats and the highest number of seats for a third party since1923,restoring the Liberal Democrats as the third largest party in the House of Commons.[145]He celebrated by singingNeil Diamond's "Sweet Caroline"at a Liberal Democrat party.[146]This also makes Davey able to ask two questions toKeir Starmereach week atPrime Minister's Questions.Davey said he was humbled by the results, and jokingly said: "I've rather enjoyed this campaign".[147]He retained Kingston and Surbiton for the Liberal Democrats at the election, with an increased majority.

Views[edit]

Davey addressing the 2017 Liberal Democrat Conference

Davey identifies as aliberalpolitically, telling theTotal Politicsmagazine: "I personally think liberalism is the strongest political philosophy in the modern world.Socialismhas failed. I think evensocial democracy,the watered down version which Labour sort of understand depending on which day of the week it is, is not very convincing, and I don't really understand where the Conservatives are coming from because they have so many philosophies within one party. There's no philosophy of the modern Conservative Party. "[148]He has said that he believes "in thefree marketand incompetition",[149]and during a parliamentarypublic bill committeedebate in November 2010 argued in defence ofprivatisation,deregulation,and theprivate sectoragainst Labour MPGregg McClymont.[150]

Davey also describes himself as a "strong free-trader", rejecting reciprocity in trade tariffs as "the classic protectionist argument". He believes Britain should be open to foreign investment, except for investment tainted by "smells that you have from Putin."[151]He dismisses worries over foreign ownership and investment in the British economy such as that of French andChinese companies' involvement in the British energy market.[152][151]Davey describes himself as "aneconomistby trade. "[153]

He was a supporter of the coalition government, writing in a 2011 column for London newspaperGet West Londonthat the coalition would "restorelibertyto the people "and that" Labour'snanny statewill be cut back "in reference to the coalition's policies on civil liberties.[154]In 2012, Davey predicted the coalition government would be morepro-European UnionthanTony Blair's Labour government, praising Conservative ministers and the then Prime MinisterDavid Cameronfor relations they had developed with European counterparts.[155]Retrospectively, Davey said of the coalition in 2017: "I think the coalition government, when history looks at it, will go down as actually a pretty good government."[156]

Davey in 2010

In 2017, Davey warned against a Conservative Party proposal for fines on large internet companies who fail to remove extremist and terrorist material from their platforms within 24 hours, which he claimed could lead to censorship if companies are forced to rush to remove such material and pointed to Germany as an example of where this approach has the potential to lead to censorship.[157]He thinkstechnology giantsmust not be treated as the "enemy" and accused the Conservatives of declaring an "all-out war" on the internet.[157]Similarly he is critical of Conservative proposals to weakenencryptionbecause, according to Davey, encryption is important for individual security and helping businesses to thrive.[158]

In 2018, after the government'sInvestigatory Powers Actmass surveillance law was declared to be in breach of EU law, Davey commented that UK surveillance needed a "major overhaul" which puts "our freedoms and civil liberties at its very core" (Davey's party opposes the mass surveillance law and had voted against it).[159][160]Since the 2000s, Davey has been vocal on the issue ofdetention without trial,in particularGuantanamoandBagram,which he believed required transparency and formal investigation oftortureallegations.[161][162][163]He has opposed indefinite detention for illegal immigrants.[164]

Davey is supportive ofmarket solutionsin the conventional energy sector,The Guardiandescribing him as a 'zealot' for markets. He has been highly critical ofprice controlssuch as those proposed by former Labour leaderEd Miliband;he considers them to be detrimental tocompetitionand lowering prices for consumers.[165][151]He has promoted removal ofbarriers to entryto encourage new entrants into the energy market; "We began withderegulation.This stimulated a doubling of smaller firms "he wrote of his policy as Energy Secretary in 2014.[79][166]Additionally, he welcomed the rise ofconsumer switchingwebsites.[79]He has also been in support of trade to importnatural gasfrom countries including the United States andQatar,[167][168]and importation of green energy via newinterconnectorsfromNorwayandIreland.[169][170][171]He has, however, supported "properly designed and carefully targeted" short-term subsidies for some emerginggreen energy technologiesin order to meet climate change targets.[172]

When cutting greenenergy subsidiesas Energy and Climate Change Secretary, Davey said he "tended to try and marketise the reduction so people were competing for any remaining subsidies" throughContracts for difference(CfDs).[173]After leaving the office of Energy Secretary in 2015 he explained that he had planned to "eliminate subsidies over the coming years"[174]and had previously stated, "ultimately I don't want the government—the Secretary of State—to decide what thatlow carbonmix is... I want the markets and technology development and innovation to decide what that mix is. "[151]

He has argued in favour of bothnuclear powerandfrackingas potential energy sources,[175][176]and natural gases astransitional fuels,[177]though he has warned that there should not be an over-reliance on them.[178][179]

Davey at thePeople's VoteRally 2019

Davey has previously argued against nuclear power but in 2013 he urged fellow Liberal Democrat members to support nuclear power, stating, "I've changed my mind because ofclimate change."[180]

Davey does not support the United Kingdom rejoining the European Union in the short term, in 2020 stating that the idea that people would want to consider re-joining the EU in two or three years' time as "being for the birds".[181][182]In January 2021 he clarified this position, stating that he is "determined the Liberal Democrats remain a pro-European party committed to the UK being members of the European Union again", adding that his party is "practical" about the matter.[183]

Following themurder of Sarah Everard,Davey said that "Men have got to change" and suggested that we "educate boys and men to show more respect".[184]In May 2021, alongside celebrities and other public figures, Davey was a signatory to an open letter fromStylistmagazine which called on the government to address what it described as an "epidemic of male violence" by funding an "ongoing, high-profile, expert-informed awareness campaign on men's violence against women and girls".[185]

A supporter of transgender rights, Davey believes thattransgender womenshould be given the same rights as cisgender women, which he made clear in a series of interviews on the day that a report into violence against women, commissioned in the wake of the Everard affair, was published.[186][187][188]

Davey criticisedBoris Johnsonafter the2021 North Shropshire by-electionwhere a Lib Dem candidate,Helen Morganoverturned a Conservative majority of nearly 23,000 to win the seat. Davey said it was a "watershed moment in our politics. Millions of people are fed up with Boris Johnson and his failure to provide leadership throughout the pandemic and last night the voters of North Shropshire spoke for all of them."[189]

In November 2023, Davey expressed support for a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip following theIsrael–Hamas war,saying that "it is increasingly clear that a military solution to eliminateHamasis not possible. With a devastating humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza, an ongoing hostage situation, and growing risk of regional escalation, we must urgently demand a different approach. "[190]

He condemned theattempted assassination of Donald Trump.[191]

Business appointments[edit]

Davey took up several business appointments after leaving his role as Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change in May 2015.

Mongoose Energy appointed Davey as chairman in September 2015.[192][193]

Davey set up an independent consultancy in September 2015 to provide advice on energy and climate change.[192]

In January 2016 Davey was appointed as a part-time consultant toMHP Communications,the public relations and lobbying firm representingEDF Energy.[192]Davey was criticised bypress commentatorsfor the potential conflict of interest between his previous role as Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change and his role at MHP. As Secretary of State Davey awarded EDF the contract to build anew nuclear plantat Hinkley Point in Somerset.[194][195]

Davey's appointment as Global Partner and non-Executive director of private equity investor Nord Engine Capital was announced in February 2016.[192][196]

In July 2016 he became non-paid patron of the Sustainable Futures Foundation, a charity promoting environmental sustainability for the public benefit.[192]

Until February 2021, Davey was on the advisory boards of the law firmHerbert Smith Freehillsand of the fund manager NextEnergy Capital, which manages the listed companyNextEnergy Solar Fund;he resigned both roles in the wake of theparliamentary second jobs controversy.[197]

Personal life[edit]

In the summer of 2005 Davey married Emily Gasson, who was the Liberal Democrat candidate forNorth Dorsetat thegeneral election that year.Their first child, John, was born in December 2007. John has severe learning and physical disabilities due to an undiagnosed neurological condition, and requires round-the-clock care. This is provided for by Davey and his wife, as well as external carers, and is a key reason behind Davey's advocacy for carers.[15][198]Their son also has speech difficulties, spurring Davey's interest inspeech therapy.[199]He and his wife have another child, a daughter named Ellie.[200]

The family lives inSurbiton,London, where Davey lived before his election to Parliament in 1997. Emily fought theNorth Dorsetseat again in the2010 general election,and also had the number two position on the Lib Dem London-wide candidate list for the2016 London Assembly elections,[201]but was not elected. In the2018 election,Emily stood for election as a councillor for the three-seatNorbitonWard in 2018, part of theRoyal Borough of KingstonCouncil, and topped the poll with 20% of the vote.[202]

Davey speaksEnglish,French,GermanandSpanish.[203]He is a supporter ofNotts County Football Club.[204]

Honours[edit]

In 1995, Davey won aRoyal Humane Societybravery award and commendation from theChief constableof theBritish Transport Policefor rescuing a woman who had fallen onto the railway line in the face of an oncoming train atClapham Junction railway station.[14][205]

In 2001 he was elected aFellowof theRoyal Society of Arts(FRSA).[206]

He was sworn in as a member ofHer Majesty's Most Honourable Privy Councilon 8 February 2012, giving him thehonorific prefix"The Right Honourable"for life.

Davey wasknightedin the2016 New Years Honours Listfor 'political and public service'.[112][207]

Publications[edit]

  • Davey, Edward (2000),Making MPs Work For Our Money: Reforming Parliament's Role In Budget Scrutinyby 2000, Centre for Reform,ISBN1-902622-21-9
  • Davey, Edward. "Liberalism and localism", Chapter 2 inThe Orange Book: Reclaiming LiberalismbyDavid LawsandPaul Marshall(contributionset al.), 2004,Profile Books,ISBN1-86197-797-2
  • Davey, Edward; Hunter, Rebecca.People Who Help Us: Member of Parliament,2004, Cherrytree Books,ISBN978-1842345467

See also[edit]

Notes[edit]

  1. ^abServing alongsideSal Brintonfrom 13 December 2019 to 1 January 2020 andMark Packfrom 1 January to 27 August 2020.

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External links[edit]

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Parliament of the United Kingdom
New constituency Member of Parliament
forKingston and Surbiton
1997–2015 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Member of Parliament
forKingston and Surbiton
2017–present 		Incumbent
Political offices
Preceded by Undersecretary of State for Employment Relations, Consumer and Postal Affairs
2010–2012 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change
2012–2015 		Succeeded by
Party political offices
Preceded by Deputy leader of the Liberal Democrats
2019–2020 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Leader of the Liberal Democrats
2020–present 		Incumbent
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