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Glyn Davies (Welsh politician)
Encyclopedia
Glyn Davies (born 16 February 1944) is a Welsh Conservative Party
politician. He has been the Member of Parliament
(MP) for Montgomeryshire
since May 2010, and is a former member of the National Assembly for Wales
in the Mid and West Wales region (which covers the areas of Powys, Pembrokeshire, Ceredigion, Camarthenshire and Gwynedd).
He spent his early working life running the family farm near Castle Caereinion, Welshpool
on which he was born and in which still has a business interest. He now lives at Cil Farm, Berriew. Davies takes an active interest in a wide range of sports, gardening, and other countryside activities.
In 2002, Davies underwent major surgery for colon cancer. He went on to make a full recovery and in 2006 competed in a rugby game alongside Jonah Lomu
to promote the message that is possible to make a full recovery following a serious illness and to raise money for charity.
Member of the National Assembly for Wales
for the Welsh Conservative Party
in the Mid and West Wales region from 1999 to 2007. Chair of the Agriculture and Rural Development Committee in the First Assembly; and the Environment, Planning and Countryside Committee in the Second Assembly.
Following the loss of his place in the National Assembly for Wales due to Conservative success elsewhere in the region, Davies challenged Lembit Öpik
, the Liberal Democrat MP for Montgomeryshire
, at the 2010 UK General Election, having unsuccessfully challenged Öpik at the 1997 General Election in the same seat. He beat Öpik to become the Member of Parliament for Montgomeryshire. In September 2010 it was announced that Glyn was appointed Parliamentary Private Secretary (PPS)
to Cheryl Gillan
as Secretary of State for Wales
.
, having signed an early day motion in support of its continued funding on the National Health Service
.
is quoted as saying, "By common consensus the best politician blogger in Wales and he's a real character". Davies kept up blogging after losing his seat in the National Assembly and is seen as fairly non-partisan for a Conservative and often very funny. At times in 2007 he was almost single-handedly fighting for a 'rainbow coalition' through his blog.
Davies recently defended the sacked former blogger Christopher Glamorganshire, and is quoted as saying “The Christopher Glamorganshire blog was on my list of ‘my favourites’. It seemed to me to be written in a sensible and rational manner. Clearly, if his contract of employment said he was not allowed to blog, he doesn’t have much of a case. But if it is simply a question of supposedly contravening the code, I think sacking him is very harsh and heavy handed. This all smacks of the heavy hand of the state.”
His blog was voted the second most popular Welsh political blog in Iain Dale
's Total Politics Guide to Blogging 2008-09, a position he has maintained from the previous year.
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...
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 Montgomeryshire
Montgomeryshire (UK Parliament constituency)
Montgomeryshire is a constituency represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. Created in 1542, it elects one Member of Parliament , traditionally known as the knight of the shire, by the first-past-the-post system of election.The Montgomeryshire Welsh Assembly...
since May 2010, and is a former member of the National Assembly for Wales
National Assembly for Wales
The National Assembly for Wales is a devolved assembly with power to make legislation in Wales. The Assembly comprises 60 members, who are known as Assembly Members, or AMs...
in the Mid and West Wales region (which covers the areas of Powys, Pembrokeshire, Ceredigion, Camarthenshire and Gwynedd).
Background
Educated at Castle Caereinion Primary School and Llanfair Caereinion High School. At the age of 50, he attended Aberystwyth University where he broadened his knowledge of Politics - he gained a Diploma in International Law and Politics.He spent his early working life running the family farm near Castle Caereinion, Welshpool
Welshpool
Welshpool is a town in Powys, Wales, or ancient county Montgomeryshire, from the Wales-England border. The town is low-lying on the River Severn; the Welsh language name Y Trallwng literally meaning 'the marshy or sinking land'...
on which he was born and in which still has a business interest. He now lives at Cil Farm, Berriew. Davies takes an active interest in a wide range of sports, gardening, and other countryside activities.
In 2002, Davies underwent major surgery for colon cancer. He went on to make a full recovery and in 2006 competed in a rugby game alongside Jonah Lomu
Jonah Lomu
Jonah Tali Lomu, MNZM is a New Zealand rugby union player. He had sixty-three caps as an All Black after debuting in 1994. He is generally regarded as the first true global superstar of rugby union. He has had a huge impact on the game...
to promote the message that is possible to make a full recovery following a serious illness and to raise money for charity.
Professional career
Davies was a farmer. He is a former Chairman of the Development Board for Rural Wales and also served as a Member of the Welsh Development Agency and the Welsh Tourist Board.Political career
Davies' career in politics began in 1980 when he found his local District Council. He was Chairman of Montgomeryshire District Council from 1985–89, having previously served as Chair of the Planning Committee and Chair of the Finance Committee.Member of the National Assembly for Wales
National Assembly for Wales
The National Assembly for Wales is a devolved assembly with power to make legislation in Wales. The Assembly comprises 60 members, who are known as Assembly Members, or AMs...
for the Welsh Conservative Party
Welsh Conservative Party
The Welsh Conservatives & Unionists , informally the Welsh Conservatives or Welsh Tories, are the part of the Conservative Party which operates in Wales...
in the Mid and West Wales region from 1999 to 2007. Chair of the Agriculture and Rural Development Committee in the First Assembly; and the Environment, Planning and Countryside Committee in the Second Assembly.
Following the loss of his place in the National Assembly for Wales due to Conservative success elsewhere in the region, Davies challenged Lembit Öpik
Lembit Öpik
Lembit Öpik is a British Liberal Democrat politician. He was the Member of Parliament for the constituency of Montgomeryshire in Wales from 1997 until he lost his seat in the 2010 General Election...
, the Liberal Democrat MP for Montgomeryshire
Montgomeryshire (UK Parliament constituency)
Montgomeryshire is a constituency represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. Created in 1542, it elects one Member of Parliament , traditionally known as the knight of the shire, by the first-past-the-post system of election.The Montgomeryshire Welsh Assembly...
, at the 2010 UK General Election, having unsuccessfully challenged Öpik at the 1997 General Election in the same seat. He beat Öpik to become the Member of Parliament for Montgomeryshire. In September 2010 it was announced that Glyn was appointed Parliamentary Private Secretary (PPS)
Parliamentary Private Secretary
A Parliamentary Private Secretary is a role given to a United Kingdom Member of Parliament by a senior minister in government or shadow minister to act as their contact for the House of Commons; this role is junior to that of Parliamentary Under-Secretary, which is a ministerial post, salaried by...
to Cheryl Gillan
Cheryl Gillan
Cheryl Elise Kendall Gillan is a British Conservative Party politician. She is currently the Secretary of State for Wales, and the Member of Parliament for the constituency of Chesham and Amersham in Buckinghamshire....
as Secretary of State for Wales
Secretary of State for Wales
The Secretary of State for Wales is the head of the Wales Office within the British cabinet. He or she is responsible for ensuring Welsh interests are taken into account by the government, representing the government within Wales and overseeing the passing of legislation which is only for Wales...
.
Alternative medicine
He is a supporter of homeopathyHomeopathy
Homeopathy is a form of alternative medicine in which practitioners claim to treat patients using highly diluted preparations that are believed to cause healthy people to exhibit symptoms that are similar to those exhibited by the patient...
, having signed an early day motion in support of its continued funding on the National Health Service
National Health Service
The National Health Service is the shared name of three of the four publicly funded healthcare systems in the United Kingdom. They provide a comprehensive range of health services, the vast majority of which are free at the point of use to residents of the United Kingdom...
.
Blogging
Davies' blog, 'A View from Rural Wales' is generally regarded as one of Wales' most popular political blogs. The UK blogger Iain DaleIain Dale
Iain Campbell Dale is best known for his conservative-minded British political blog Iain Dale's Diary and for his frequent appearances on UK news channels as a political commentator. He is also a publisher, broadcaster and former Conservative Party politician...
is quoted as saying, "By common consensus the best politician blogger in Wales and he's a real character". Davies kept up blogging after losing his seat in the National Assembly and is seen as fairly non-partisan for a Conservative and often very funny. At times in 2007 he was almost single-handedly fighting for a 'rainbow coalition' through his blog.
Davies recently defended the sacked former blogger Christopher Glamorganshire, and is quoted as saying “The Christopher Glamorganshire blog was on my list of ‘my favourites’. It seemed to me to be written in a sensible and rational manner. Clearly, if his contract of employment said he was not allowed to blog, he doesn’t have much of a case. But if it is simply a question of supposedly contravening the code, I think sacking him is very harsh and heavy handed. This all smacks of the heavy hand of the state.”
His blog was voted the second most popular Welsh political blog in Iain Dale
Iain Dale
Iain Campbell Dale is best known for his conservative-minded British political blog Iain Dale's Diary and for his frequent appearances on UK news channels as a political commentator. He is also a publisher, broadcaster and former Conservative Party politician...
's Total Politics Guide to Blogging 2008-09, a position he has maintained from the previous year.
External links
- Glyn Davies MP official constituency website
- Glyn Davies View from Rural Wales blog
- Glyn Davies MP Conservative Party profile
- Glyn Davies MP Welsh Conservative Party profile
- Montgomeryshire Conservatives