Ivor Davies
Encyclopedia
Ivor Davies was a British Liberal Party
activist and parliamentary candidate; journalist and United Nations Association
administrator. Politically, his chief claim to fame was his decision in October 1938 to withdraw as Liberal candidate at the Oxford by-election along with the Labour candidate Patrick Gordon-Walker to allow an independent, Popular Front, anti-Munich candidate, A. D. Lindsay
, the Master of Balliol
, to challenge the government candidate Quintin Hogg
.
and wrote for other publications. During this time he was adopted as Liberal candidate for Central Aberdeenshire
.
. His only real connection with Oxford was that he had presided at a Liberal students’ conference there earlier that year. The Munich Agreement
had been signed at the end of September and appeasement was central in the by-election campaign. In the end, perhaps due to Lindsay’s inexperience and lack of the common touch, perhaps to Hogg’s superior political skills, perhaps due to Labour’s less than wholehearted support of Lindsay – Hogg won the seat, albeit with a reduced majority.
and rose to Acting Flight Lieutenant, serving at home, in India and Burma where he was wounded. In 1940 he married Jean McLeod whom he had known from Edinburgh. They had one son, John, who became a Labour Party
politician, standing against Margaret Thatcher
in Finchley
in 1987
and a daughter Mary who like her father was president of the Edinburgh University Liberal Club and was an elected Liberal councillor in Havering.
and West Aberdeenshire
in 1950
. He contested Oxford in 1955
, 1959
and 1964
raising the Liberal vote and he became a member of the Liberal Party Council. In 1962 he was elected to Oxford City Council
. He was always on the radical wing of the party and was in particular a supporter of nuclear disarmament
being one time chair of Oxford CND. He was awarded the CBE
for political and public service in 1984.
Liberal Party (UK)
The Liberal Party was one of the two major political parties of the United Kingdom during the 19th and early 20th centuries. It was a third party of negligible importance throughout the latter half of the 20th Century, before merging with the Social Democratic Party in 1988 to form the present day...
activist and parliamentary candidate; journalist and United Nations Association
United Nations Association UK
right|The United Nations Association of the UK is the leading independent policy authority on the UN in the UK and a UK-wide grassroots membership organisation.-Activities:...
administrator. Politically, his chief claim to fame was his decision in October 1938 to withdraw as Liberal candidate at the Oxford by-election along with the Labour candidate Patrick Gordon-Walker to allow an independent, Popular Front, anti-Munich candidate, A. D. Lindsay
Alexander Dunlop Lindsay, 1st Baron Lindsay of Birker
Alexander Dunlop Lindsay, 1st Baron Lindsay of Birker CBE known as Sandie Lindsay, was a British academic and peer.-Early life:...
, the Master of Balliol
Balliol
Balliol may refer to:* The Balliol family, Lords of Baliol, and their fief* their ancestral seat in Northern France, known usually as Bailleul* Balliol College, Oxford* King John of Scotland , often known as John Balliol...
, to challenge the government candidate Quintin Hogg
Quintin Hogg, Baron Hailsham of St Marylebone
For the businessman and philanthropist, see Quintin Hogg Quintin McGarel Hogg, Baron Hailsham of St Marylebone, KG, CH, PC, QC, FRS , formerly 2nd Viscount Hailsham , was a British politician who was known for the longevity of his career, the vigour with which he campaigned for the Conservative...
.
Education and early career
Davies was born at Pontrhydygroes in Cardiganshire the son of a Congregationalist minister. He was educated in West London and Edinburgh, where he also attended George Watson’s College. He then went to Edinburgh University where he became President of the Union of University Liberal Societies. After University he went to work as a journalist on the News ChronicleNews Chronicle
The News Chronicle was a British daily newspaper. It ceased publication on 17 October 1960, being absorbed into the Daily Mail. Its offices were in Bouverie Street, off Fleet Street, London, EC4Y 8DP, England.-Daily Chronicle:...
and wrote for other publications. During this time he was adopted as Liberal candidate for Central Aberdeenshire
Aberdeen and Kincardine Central (UK Parliament constituency)
Aberdeen and Kincardine Central, also known as Central Aberdeenshire, was a county constituency of the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom from 1918 until 1950...
.
Oxford by-election
However in 1938, he was chosen, as a rising star in the Liberal Party, to contest the by-election which occurred following the death of Captain R C Bourne the Conservative MP for OxfordOxford (UK Parliament constituency)
Oxford was a parliamentary constituency in the United Kingdom. It comprised the city of Oxford in the county of Oxfordshire, and elected two Members of Parliament from its creation in 1295 until 1881...
. His only real connection with Oxford was that he had presided at a Liberal students’ conference there earlier that year. The Munich Agreement
Munich Agreement
The Munich Pact was an agreement permitting the Nazi German annexation of Czechoslovakia's Sudetenland. The Sudetenland were areas along Czech borders, mainly inhabited by ethnic Germans. The agreement was negotiated at a conference held in Munich, Germany, among the major powers of Europe without...
had been signed at the end of September and appeasement was central in the by-election campaign. In the end, perhaps due to Lindsay’s inexperience and lack of the common touch, perhaps to Hogg’s superior political skills, perhaps due to Labour’s less than wholehearted support of Lindsay – Hogg won the seat, albeit with a reduced majority.
War Service & Family
During the war, Davies enlisted in the Royal Air ForceRoyal Air Force
The Royal Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Formed on 1 April 1918, it is the oldest independent air force in the world...
and rose to Acting Flight Lieutenant, serving at home, in India and Burma where he was wounded. In 1940 he married Jean McLeod whom he had known from Edinburgh. They had one son, John, who became a 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, standing against Margaret Thatcher
Margaret Thatcher
Margaret Hilda Thatcher, Baroness Thatcher, was Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 1979 to 1990...
in Finchley
Finchley (UK Parliament constituency)
Finchley was a constituency represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. It elected one Member of Parliament by the first past the post system of election; its best-known MP was Margaret Thatcher, Prime Minister from 1979 to 1990...
in 1987
United Kingdom general election, 1987
The United Kingdom general election of 1987 was held on 11 June 1987, to elect 650 members to the British House of Commons. The election was the third consecutive election victory for the Conservative Party under the leadership of Margaret Thatcher, who became the first Prime Minister since the 2nd...
and a daughter Mary who like her father was president of the Edinburgh University Liberal Club and was an elected Liberal councillor in Havering.
Liberal candidate
Davies fought Central Aberdeenshire for the Liberals in 1945United 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...
and West Aberdeenshire
West Aberdeenshire (UK Parliament constituency)
West Aberdeenshire was a Scottish county constituency of the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom from 1868 to 1918 and form 1950 to 1983...
in 1950
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 contested Oxford in 1955
United Kingdom general election, 1955
The 1955 United Kingdom general election was held on 26 May 1955, four years after the previous general election. It resulted in a substantially increased majority of 60 for the Conservative government under new leader and prime minister Sir Anthony Eden against Labour Party, now in their 20th year...
, 1959
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...
and 1964
United Kingdom general election, 1964
The United Kingdom general election of 1964 was held on 15 October 1964, more than five years after the preceding election, and thirteen years after the Conservative Party had retaken power...
raising the Liberal vote and he became a member of the Liberal Party Council. In 1962 he was elected to Oxford City Council
Oxford City Council
The Oxford City Council provides local government for the city of Oxford in England.- Overview :Between the 2004 local elections, and 2010 the council was in minority administration, first by councillors from the Labour Party, with the Liberal Democrats being the official opposition...
. He was always on the radical wing of the party and was in particular a supporter of nuclear disarmament
Nuclear disarmament
Nuclear disarmament refers to both the act of reducing or eliminating nuclear weapons and to the end state of a nuclear-free world, in which nuclear weapons are completely eliminated....
being one time chair of Oxford CND. He was awarded the CBE
CBE
CBE and C.B.E. are abbreviations for "Commander of the Order of the British Empire", a grade in the Order of the British Empire.Other uses include:* Chemical and Biochemical Engineering...
for political and public service in 1984.