Gareth Davies (Welsh politician)

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This article is about a Member of the Senedd elected in 2021. For the Member of Parliament elected in 2019, see Gareth Davies (English politician).

Gareth Davies
MS
Member of the Senedd
for Vale of Clwyd
Assumed office
7 May 2021
Preceded byAnn Jones
Majority366
Personal details
Born
Gareth Lloyd Davies

(1988-09-17) 17 September 1988 (age 35)
St Asaph, Denbighshire, Wales
NationalityWelsh, British
Political partyConservative
SpouseCatrin Jones
Children1
Residence(s)Rhyl, Prestatyn
EducationYsgol Bryn Hedydd, Rhyl, Rydal Penrhos 1996-2005
Coleg Llandrillo Cymru
Bangor University
OccupationNHS worker (2010-21)
Denbighshire County Councillor (2017-22)
Member of the Senedd (2021-
CommitteesWelsh Parliament Health and Social Care Committee
PortfolioShadow Minister for Social Services
Websitehttps://www.garethdavies.wales/

Gareth Lloyd Davies (born 17 September 1988) is a

Welsh Conservative politician who has been Member of the Senedd (MS) for Vale of Clwyd since 2021.[1] He is the first Conservative to win this seat since its establishment in 1999.[2][3]

Early life and education

Born in 1988, Davies is the son of Steven and Susan Davies. He attended Rydal Penrhos Senior School and

Coleg Llandrillo Cymru. From 2010 to 2021, Davies worked in learning disability and mental health nursing, and physiotherapy for the NHS in Flintshire, North Wales.[1]

Political career

In 2017,[4] he was elected to Denbighshire County Council, representing the Prestatyn South West ward. He also serves the Prestatyn South West ward on Prestatyn Town Council.[5] He was elected to the Welsh Parliament, known as the Senedd, to represent the Vale of Clwyd constituency on 7 May 2021.[2][3] Controversially, he continued to sit as a Denbighshire County Councillor (until 2022). In May 2021, he was appointed as the Shadow Minister for Social Services and elected to the Senedd's Health and Social Care Committee.[6]

On 30 June 2021, Davies delivered the first Members Legislative proposal of the 6th Senedd.[7] He proposed new legislation which would ensure a rights-based approach to services for older people in Wales. His proposal won the backing of Senedd Members,[8] despite opposition from Welsh Government.

In October 2021, there was a vote in the

Conservative Party Conference in Manchester, and so attempted to cast his vote against the measure via Zoom.[9] He was unable to do so,[10] and the motion passed by a single vote, 28 votes to 27.[11]
This is seen by many as one of the most pivotal and famous moments of the Senedd since its inception in 1999.

In March 2023 Davies caused controversy after stating in the Senedd that there are “too many” Gypsy and Traveller sites in North Wales and adding that, “The simple message is that we don’t want them". He was asked to "rethink" his comments by Social Justice Minister Jane Hutt. His remarks were also condemned by gypsy and traveller advocates.[12] Davies subsequently apologised for his remarks.[13]

Personal life

In 2018, Davies married Catrin Jones; the couple have a son. Outside of politics, he enjoys football, rugby, cricket, running and mountaineering.[1]

References

  1. ^
    ISBN 978-0-19-954088-4
    . Retrieved 6 December 2022.
  2. ^ a b "Welsh election results 2021: Labour edges closer to victory". BBC News. 7 May 2021. Retrieved 7 May 2021.
  3. ^ a b Mosalski, Ruth (8 May 2021). "Senedd election 2021 result in the Vale of Clwyd: Conservatives take seat from Labour". WalesOnline. Retrieved 8 May 2021.
  4. ^ Council, Denbighshire County (1 April 2013). "Denbighshire County Council". moderngov.denbighshire.gov.uk. Retrieved 21 October 2021.
  5. ^ "Councillors Prestatyn". Prestatyn Town Council. Retrieved 21 October 2021.
  6. ^ "Health and Social Care Committee".
  7. ^ "Vale of Clwyd MS, Gareth Davies secures support for older people's bill | AberdareOnline". www.aberdareonline.co.uk. Retrieved 21 October 2021.
  8. ^ "Plenary 30/06/2021". Welsh Parliament. Retrieved 21 October 2021.
  9. ^ Howie, Michael (6 October 2021). "Gareth Davies: Tory who missed crucial Wales Covid pass vote was at party conference". Evening Standard.
  10. ^ Owen, Twm (5 October 2021). "Tory Gareth Davies couldn't vote against Covid pass via Zoom". The National Wales. Retrieved 11 October 2021.
  11. ^ Finnis, Alex (6 October 2021). "How to get a vaccine passport in Wales: Where to get the Welsh Covid pass and the new rules explained". i. Retrieved 11 October 2021.
  12. ^ https://www.rhyljournal.co.uk/news/23358897.minister-shocked-vale-clwyd-ms-gypsy-traveller-comments/
  13. ^ https://www.rhyljournal.co.uk/news/23360133.vale-clwyd-ms-apologises-following-gypsy-traveller-comments/

External links

Offices held

Town and County Councillor for South West Prestatyn (2017-2022)

Senedd
Preceded by Member of the Senedd for Vale of Clwyd
2021 – present 		Incumbent
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