Philip Davies MP | |
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Member of Parliament for Shipley |
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Incumbent | |
Assumed office 5 May 2005 |
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Preceded by | Chris Leslie |
Majority | 9,944 (20.1%) |
Personal details | |
Born | Doncaster, South Yorkshire, England |
5 January 1972
Nationality | British |
Political party | Conservative |
Spouse(s) | Deborah Helmsley |
Children | Two sons |
Alma mater | University of Huddersfield |
Website | www.philipdavies.me.uk |
Philip Andrew Davies (born 5 January 1972) is a British Conservative Party politician. He is the Member of Parliament (MP) for Shipley in West Yorkshire.
Contents |
Early life
Born in Doncaster, he was educated at the Old Swinford Hospital School, Stourbridge, and the University of Huddersfield where he was awarded a 2:1 BA Hons degree in History and Political Studies in 1993. He joined the Conservative Party in 1988. He became the manager of Marilyn Davies Bookmakers in 1990, and a cashier with Mark Jarvis Bookmakers in 1992 for a year until becoming a manager.[1]
In 1993 he was employed by Asda initially as a cashier, before commencing training as a customer services manager in 1995, becoming a deputy customer service manager in 1997; later in the same year he was appointed as a Customer Relations Project Manager. In 1999 he became the customer services project manager in Leeds, he left Asda on his election to Parliament.
Parliamentary career
He unsuccessfully contested the parliamentary seat of Colne Valley at the 2001 general election and was defeated by the sitting Labour MP Kali Mountford by 4,639 votes.
In May 2005, he was elected as an MP at the 2005 general election for the seat of Shipley with a majority of 422 votes, removing the sitting Labour MP and Parliamentary Under Secretary of State at the Department for Constitutional Affairs Chris Leslie. He received donations toward his successful campaign from Bearwood Corporate Services,[2] a front company set up by non-domicile Lord Ashcroft to give out donations to marginal seats such as Davies'. Bearwood has given a total of £5.1 million to the Conservative Party since 2003.[3]
He made his maiden speech on 7 June 2005, where he remembered Titus Salt and the UNESCO World Heritage Site in Saltaire. He also announced that he wanted to remain a backbencher and not to be a shadow spokesman or a minister, and that he wanted to feel able to speak for his constituents.[4]
Davies held his seat with an increased majority of just under 10,000 votes in the 2010 general election.
He was re-elected onto the Executive Committee of the 1922 Committee of backbench Conservative MPs in 2010 and is a member of the Culture, Media and Sport Select Committee. He has also become a member of the newly established backbench business committee and a member of the Speaker's Panel, chairing Westminster Hall debates.[5]
Davies is rated as one of the Conservatives' most rebellious MPs.[6]
Stance
Political commentator Peter Hitchens has described Davies as being a "genuinely conservative" MP.[7] He is a member of the Freedom Association and often claims to be libertarian (see "Political correctness" section below), for example voting against the smoking ban in 2006.[8] However, his stance on DNA databases, CCTV and law and order is decidedly more authoritarian.[9] He has called for government to "scrap the Human Rights Act for foreign nationals and chuck them out of the country"[10] and he has been criticised as "disgracefully reactionary" for saying publicly that he wanted to see "an increase in the prison population."[11]
Economic libertarian
He is an organiser for the economically right-wing Taxpayers' Alliance.[12] He is among a minority of Conservative MPs[13] who has called for the scrapping of the minimum wage in the UK[14][15] and in 2011 he suggested that disabled people should be allowed to work for below minimum wage, giving employers the incentive to take them on over fully able people. He was criticised by disabled charities for his comments and the Conservative Party quickly distanced themselves from the suggestion.[16][17] Davies' initial response was that the furore over his comments was "Left-wing hysteria".[18]
Eurosceptic
Davies has called for complete withdrawal from the European Union, starting the Better Off Out campaign,[19] and campaigning at the Conservative Party Conference in 2005.
The eurosceptic United Kingdom Independence Party did not field a candidate against Davies in the 2010 general election and campaigned for his re-election as a result of his anti-EU views.[20] In the event, Davies held his seat with an increased majority of just under 10,000 votes.
"Political correctness"
Davies is the parliamentary spokesman for the Campaign Against Political Correctness[21] and he has been accused of wasting the Equality and Human Rights Commission's time by sending a stream of correspondence to its Chair, Trevor Phillips, between 2008 and 2009. In this correspondence, he asked questions relating to race and sex discrimination such as: "Is it offensive to black up or not, particularly if you are impersonating a black person?" and "Why it is so offensive to black up your face, as I have never understood this?"[22][23] Leading some commentators to suggest that he was "lobbying for 'blacking up.'"[24][25] He also asked whether it was racist for a policeman to refer to a BMW as "black man's wheels" and whether the Metropolitan Black Police Association breaches discrimination law by restricting its membership to black people.[22] Peter Herbert, the chair of the Society of Black Lawyers, said: "This correspondence seems a complete and utter waste of time... he shouldn't be using the Human Rights Commission as basically a source of legal advice."[22]
In March 2007 he voted against the Equality Act (Sexual Orientation) Regulations 2007 which proposed to allow the Secretary of State to make regulations defining discrimination and harassment on grounds of sexual orientation, create criminal offences, and provide for exceptions.[26] He also complained, while calling for a Parliametary debate on "political correctness", about a school production of Romeo and Julian during LGBT History month. Commons Leader Harriet Harman described his remarks as "cheap shots".[27]
He was called a "troglodyte" by then Conservative MP and current Speaker of the House of Commons John Bercow for his opposition to debating the Equalities Bill, the effect of the recession on women and International Women’s Day.[28]
In March 2011 Davies claimed,[29] falsely,[30] that there was "no basis in evidence" that restricting branding on cigarette packets would reduce smoking levels, saying "I believe that the introduction of plain packaging for cigarettes is gesture politics of the worst kind. It would not have any basis in evidence and it would simply be a triumph for the nanny state and an absurd one at that."
He has said in Parliament that disabled workers are "by definition" less productive and could work for less than the minimum wage.[16][18] He was criticised by Labour's Anne Begg and a member of his own parliamentary party, among others, and the Conservative party quickly distanced themselves from his comments.[31] Representatives from mental illness charities Mind and Rethink called his suggestion "preposterous"[18] and "seriously misguided."[17]
Islam
On 7 October 2006, after an act of vandalism initially alleged to have been perpetrated by Muslims, The Sun quoted Davies as saying "if there’s anybody who should f*** off it’s the Muslims who do this sort of thing."[32] It was later exposed by The Independent, among others, that the incident never involved Muslims[33] and The Sun was forced to issue an apology four months later.[34] Davies, however, has not apologised for his comments.
On 28 March 2007 the Bradford Telegraph and Argus reported that Davies urged Muslims in the whole country to fly the Union flag on mosques to show their unity and commitment to Britain.[35] He is treasurer of the All Party Parliamentary Flag Group.[36]
In July 2010 Davies argued it would not be beneficial to allow the United Kingdom Youth Parliament to stage a debate in the House of Commons Chamber because it would create a precedent which would mean organisations such as the Muslim Council of Britain would be able to use the House of Commons.[37]
Global poverty
In early 2010, Davies was criticised by the press[38] and religious organisations[28] for using Parliamentary rules to "wreck" the Debt Relief (Developing Countries) Bill, an anti-poverty measure designed to stop "Vulture funds" from buying up the debt of third-word countries in order to aggressively pursue repayments through the international courts. The bill eventually failed because an anonymous Tory shouted "object", allegedly while Conservative frontbenchers covered their mouths to hide their identity. Douglas Alexander, the development minister, wrote to David Cameron accusing the Conservatives of deliberately scuppering the bill.[39]
Reform of parliament
He is against reform of parliament and has been targeted by the Power 2010 campaign as one of 6 MPs "who stand in the way of a reforming Parliament". Davies responded in the local press saying that the group's view was "unbalanced".[9]
Local issues
Recently[when?] he has been actively opposing the planned housing developments in his constituency.[40] He is currently calling for a fairer slice of the 'transport cake' for his constituency, coupled with working with local residents on issues such as the flight path of planes from Leeds/Bradford Airport and helping parents to get their children to their desired schools.[5]
Personal life
He married Deborah Gail Helmsley in July 1994 in Doncaster, whom he met at university. They have two sons and live in Baildon.
When not working Philip enjoys all sports, in particular horse-racing, cricket, football and rugby league.[5]
His father is Peter Davies, who in 2009 was elected Mayor of Doncaster for the English Democrats Party.[41]
References
- ^ "Philip Davies: Electoral history and profile". London: The Guardian. http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/person/5844/philip-davies. Retrieved 2009-09-26.
- ^ "Register of Members Interests: Philip Davies". TheyWorkForYou.com. http://www.theyworkforyou.com/regmem/?p=11816.
- ^ "Briefing: Lord Ashcroft and Bearwood". Times Online. 4 March 2010.
- ^ "Orders of the Day — Finance Bill". Hansard/TheyWorkForYou. 7 June 2005. http://www.theyworkforyou.com/debate/?id=2005-06-07a.1178.0. Retrieved 2009-09-26.
- ^ a b c http://www.conservatives.com/People/Members_of_Parliament/Davies_Philip.aspx
- ^ http://conservativehome.blogs.com/parliament/2010/12/the-latest-league-table-of-tory-backbench-rebellion.html
- ^ Peter Hitchens (20 June 2010). "A genuine Tory speaks out... and all Dave can do is flannel". The Mail on Sunday. http://hitchensblog.mailonsunday.co.uk/2010/06/a-genuine-tory-speaks-out-and-all-dave-can-do-is-flannel.html. Retrieved 20 June 2010.
- ^ http://www.publicwhip.org.uk/mp.php?mpid=40531&dmp=811
- ^ a b Anika Bourley (23 March 2010). "Shipley MP hits back at group's 'unbalanced' take on his views". Bradford Telegraph and Argus. http://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/news/5077646.MP_targeted_in_protest_campaign/.
- ^ Hannah Baker (Friday 28 January 2011). "City solicitor tells of concerns over 'prisons without bars'". http://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/news/news_behind/8818935.Terror_order_changes__don_t_go_far_enough_/.
- ^ Marc Meneaud (Tuesday 18 January 2011). "Councillor and Tory rival to hold public debate after remark over prison numbers.". Telegraph and Argus. http://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/district/district_bingley/district_bingley_bin/district_bingley_bin_bingley/8795839.Gauntlet_laid_down_to_Shipley_MP/.
- ^ Philip Gives Support to Tax Payers' Alliance Campaign
- ^ Wage Concern. "Anti-Minimum Wage Tories slammed in the Commons". YouTube. http://www.youtube.com/user/Whoshipleyvote#p/a/f/0/it_LhZ6NuGE. Retrieved 5 May 2010.
- ^ "Shipley's Philip Davies is criticised". Telegraph & Argus. 12 May 2009. http://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/news/4360854.MP_under_fire_over_minimum_wage_row/.
- ^ Greg Wright (5 May 2009). "MP in call to scrap national minimum wage". Yorkshire Post. http://www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/businessnews/MP-in-call-to-scrap.5234256.jp.
- ^ a b "MP says minimum wage a hindrance to disabled jobseekers". BBC News. 17 June 2011. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-13809620.
- ^ a b "Tory MP defends disability remarks". Yorkshire Post. 18 June 2011. http://www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/news/around-yorkshire/local-stories/tory_mp_defends_disability_remarks_1_3493320.
- ^ a b c Tim Ross, and Robert Winnett (18 June 2011). "Disabled should work for less than minimum wage, Tory MP suggests". London: Telegraph. http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/politics/8583592/Disabled-should-work-for-less-than-minimum-wage-Tory-MP-suggests.html.
- ^ Wheeler, Brian (5 December 2006). "UKIP leader 'offered Tory seat'". BBC News. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/6209386.stm. Retrieved 2009-09-26.
- ^ http://conservativehome.blogs.com/goldlist/2010/04/ukip-will-actively-campaign-for-the-reelection-of-six-conservative-mps-and-one-labour-mp.html
- ^ Burkeman, Oliver (8 December 2006). "The phoney war on Christmas". London: The Guardian. http://www.guardian.co.uk/christmas2006/story/0,,1967367,00.html.url. Retrieved 2009-09-26.
- ^ a b c Paul Owen (18 December 2009). "Philip Davies MP bombarded watchdog in 'political correctness' campaign". London: The Guardian. http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/2009/dec/18/philip-davies-political-correctness-campaign.
- ^ Andrew Hough "Philip Davies: Tory MP 'never understood' why blacking-up was offensive", Daily Telegraph, 19 December 2009
- ^ Helen Nugent (19 December 2009). "Conservative MP lobbies for ‘blacking up’". London: The Times. http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/politics/article6962517.ece.
- ^ Hazel Mollison (20 December 2009). "Tory MP asks: is it okay to 'black up'?". Edinburgh: Scotsman.com. http://news.scotsman.com/uk/Tory-MP-asks-is-it.5926299.jp.
- ^ Voting Record — Philip Davies MP, Shipley
- ^ "'Politically correct' Romeo and Julian play sparks anger". London: Telegraph.co.uk. 27 Feb 2009. http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/culturenews/4840888/Politically-correct-Romeo-and-Julian-play-sparks-anger.html. Retrieved 22 May 2010.
- ^ a b "Yorkshire MP funded by Ashcroft's company 'will wreck anti-poverty bill'". Ekklesia. 11 Mar 2010. http://www.ekklesia.co.uk/node/11488.
- ^ "Plain cigarette packs idea panned". http://web.orange.co.uk/article/news/plain_cigarette_packs_idea_panned. Retrieved 12 March 2011.
- ^ "Why cigarette packs matter". http://www.badscience.net/2011/03/why-cigarette-packs-matter/. Retrieved 12 March 2011.
- ^ Stratton, Allegra (17 June 2011). "Tory MP Philip Davies: disabled people could work for less pay". London: The Guardian. http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/2011/jun/17/tory-philip-davies-disabled-people-work.
- ^ JULIE MOULT, JAMIE PYATT and TOM REILLY (7 October 2006). "Brave heroes hounded out". London: The Sun. http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/news/article66292.ece.
- ^ Peter Oborne (7 July 2008). "The shameful Islamophobia at the heart of Britain's press". London: The Independent. http://www.independent.co.uk/news/media/the-shameful-islamophobia-at-the-heart-of-britains-press-861096.html.
- ^ "Barrack attack correction". London: The Sun. 15 January 2007. http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/news/article28273.ece.
- ^ "MP tells mosques to fly the flag". Bradford Telegraph and Argus. 28 March 2007. http://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/news/bradford/bradfordnews/display.var.1290126.0.mp_tells_mosques_to_fly_the_flag.php.
- ^ UK Parliament - Register of All Party Groups
- ^ http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm201011/cmhansrd/cm100720/debtext/100720-0004.htm#1007216000001
- ^ Heather Stewart (11 March 2010). "Vulture fund bill under threat from Tory backbencher". London: guardian.co.uk. http://www.guardian.co.uk/business/2010/mar/11/vulture-fund-bill-threatened.
- ^ Heather Stewart (12 March 2010). "Tories accused of scuppering vulture funds bill". London: guardian.co.uk. http://www.guardian.co.uk/business/2010/mar/12/tories-accused-vulture-funds-bill.
- ^ "Councillors, campaigners and MPs form new protest group". Telegraph & Argus. 27 January 2011. http://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/archive/2011/01/27/Otley+%26+Aireborough+News+%28news_otleyaire%29/8816190.Group_demands_changes_in_planning_laws_to_stop_over_development/.
- ^ http://www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/election/Shock-message-for-Government-as.5341413.jp
External links
- Philip Davies MP official constituency website
- Shipley Conservatives
- Profile at the Conservative Party
- Profile at Parliament of the United Kingdom
- Contributions in Parliament at Hansard 1803–2005
- Current session contributions in Parliament at Hansard
- Electoral history and profile at The Guardian
- Voting record at PublicWhip.org
- Record in Parliament at TheyWorkForYou.com
- Profile at Westminster Parliamentary Record
- Profile at BBC News Democracy Live
- Articles authored at Journalisted
- Campaign Against Political Correctness For which Davies is 'Parliamentary Spokesman'
News items
- Metric martyr pardon in July 2007
- Conservative values in October 2006
- The EU in October 2006
- Political correctness in April 2006
- Radio 4 Theme in January 2006
- BBC Meet the MP December 2005
- PC silliness in December 2005
Parliament of the United Kingdom | ||
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Preceded by Chris Leslie |
Member of Parliament for Shipley 2005–present |
Incumbent |