Liz Davies
Encyclopedia
Liz Davies is a British barrister
and political activist. She is the daughter of retired Oxford academic and historian of Tudor England, C. S. L. Davies.
Specialising in housing law, Davies initially worked as a solicitor
before being called to the bar in 1994. A former Labour Party
councillor in Islington (1990-98), she was selected as the Labour Prospective Parliamentary Candidate for Leeds North-East
in 1995, but was subsequently found "unsuitable" as a candidate by a large majority of the Labour Party's ruling National Executive Committee
. Davies' selection was accompanied by allegations over her behaviour at Labour group meetings, for which Davies' later commenced legal proceedings against three former Islington councillors, which ended in a settlement in which the three apologised and made a contribution to the general election fund of their local MP. She was also attacked for her association with the newspaper London Left Briefing, perceived as being a Trotskyist
publication by some, and having had earlier connections with Trotskyist groups . She was elected as a member of the NEC in October 1998 on the Grassroots Alliance
slate, serving on the body for two years, an experience recounted in her book.
Later after resigning from the Labour Party
, she joined the Socialist Alliance
in 2001, becoming the organisation's national chair for nine months. She resigned from the SA in October 2002 over claims of financial "bad practice" and frustration at the way the Socialist Workers Party's
leadership had conducted itself in the organisation's activities.
Liz Davies' partner is the American-born political activist and writer Mike Marqusee
.
Barrister
A barrister is a member of one of the two classes of lawyer found in many common law jurisdictions with split legal professions. Barristers specialise in courtroom advocacy, drafting legal pleadings and giving expert legal opinions...
and political activist. She is the daughter of retired Oxford academic and historian of Tudor England, C. S. L. Davies.
Specialising in housing law, Davies initially worked as a solicitor
Solicitor
Solicitors are lawyers who traditionally deal with any legal matter including conducting proceedings in courts. In the United Kingdom, a few Australian states and the Republic of Ireland, the legal profession is split between solicitors and barristers , and a lawyer will usually only hold one title...
before being called to the bar in 1994. A former 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...
councillor in Islington (1990-98), she was selected as the Labour Prospective Parliamentary Candidate for Leeds North-East
Leeds North East (UK Parliament constituency)
Leeds North East is a borough constituency represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. It elects one Member of Parliament by the first past the post system of election.- Boundaries :...
in 1995, but was subsequently found "unsuitable" as a candidate by a large majority of the Labour Party's ruling National Executive Committee
National Executive Committee
The National Executive Committee or NEC is the chief administrative body of the UK Labour Party. Its composition has changed over the years, and includes representatives of affiliated trade unions, the Parliamentary Labour Party and European Parliamentary Labour Party, Constituency Labour Parties,...
. Davies' selection was accompanied by allegations over her behaviour at Labour group meetings, for which Davies' later commenced legal proceedings against three former Islington councillors, which ended in a settlement in which the three apologised and made a contribution to the general election fund of their local MP. She was also attacked for her association with the newspaper London Left Briefing, perceived as being a Trotskyist
Trotskyism
Trotskyism is the theory of Marxism as advocated by Leon Trotsky. Trotsky considered himself an orthodox Marxist and Bolshevik-Leninist, arguing for the establishment of a vanguard party of the working-class...
publication by some, and having had earlier connections with Trotskyist groups . She was elected as a member of the NEC in October 1998 on the Grassroots Alliance
Grassroots Alliance
The centre-left Grassroots Alliance is a group of elected members on the British Labour Party National Executive Committee, founded in 1998. They represent members from a broad spectrum of the Labour membership, ranging from centrists to left wingers...
slate, serving on the body for two years, an experience recounted in her book.
Later after resigning from 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...
, she joined the Socialist Alliance
Socialist Alliance (England)
The Socialist Alliance was a left-wing electoral alliance in England between 1992 and 2005.In late 2005, a small group reformed with the name "Socialist Alliance", with a mutual affiliation with the larger Alliance for Green Socialism.-Origins:...
in 2001, becoming the organisation's national chair for nine months. She resigned from the SA in October 2002 over claims of financial "bad practice" and frustration at the way the Socialist Workers Party's
Socialist Workers Party (Britain)
The Socialist Workers Party is a far left party in Britain founded by Tony Cliff. The SWP's student section has groups at a number of universities...
leadership had conducted itself in the organisation's activities.
Liz Davies' partner is the American-born political activist and writer Mike Marqusee
Mike Marqusee
Mike Marqusee is an American-born writer, journalist and political activist in London. His partner is the barrister Liz Davies.Marqusee, who describes himself as a "deracinated New York Marxist Jew" has lived in Britain since 1971...
.
External links
- Garden Court Chambers homepage
- Extracts from Through the Looking Glass published in The Guardian, March 29 & 30, 2001