A former trade unionist who grew up in South London, David Davis rose through the SDP ranks in the 1970s and 1980s following his time at Lancaster University. Plain-speaking and consciously working-class, Davis first made a name for himself as a left-wing maverick in the TGWU of the early '70s. Industrial unrest and a flailing Tory government pushed many men like Davis into the spotlight, but only he made the connections necessary to leap from TGWU branch officer to SDP researcher in 1974. The idea of Davis as a 'left-wing maverick' seemed to be put to bed by Davis' diligent work with a series of MPs and ministers on the issues of workers' rights and trade union reform. Some called him a traitor (and worse), but opinions of Davis grew and grew among the middle ranks of the party and some of the SDP's 'Young Turks' began to view him as their bridge to the unions. This perspective became a popular one so much that, in 1980, Dick Taverne bluntly refused to give Davis a job in the leadership office because he was "Owen's pet prole". When David Owen challenged Taverne and won later that year, Davis was in the leadership office running communications.
Throughout the 1980s, Davis became known as the easy-going South London boy who served (like Jack Straw and others of that generation) as David Owen's 'working-class conscience'. In various roles, most notably of which was 'Downing Street liaison to the Trades Union Congress', he attempted to connect the aloof Prime Minister to the party rank-and-file whilst attempting to increase trade union affiliation to the Social Democratic Party. It was an arduous task for even the toughest of political operators, but Davis utilised his charm and intelligence to balance both such difficult tasks. It is remarkable today (to political anoraks and trade union historians, at least) to say that trade union affiliations actually increased under the leadership of David Owen. His role and his demeanour towards some of Owen's more fanatical acolytes earned him the label of 'Left Owenite' during the waning years of the '80s SDP government. Whilst it is true that Davis felt unease with some of Owen's free market reforms during that period (privatisation of the Arts Council and the cutting of corporation tax to 20% in 1985 and 1988, respectively), questions have been raised about how left-wing he really was as he supported Owen undoubtedly during those years. His support did eventually pay off as Davis was selected for Lewisham Deptford (an SDP safe seat) in 1989 and won in the ensuing 'blue landslide' election of 1990. Out of power but in Parliament, Davis tried to cultivate his own distinct philosophy away from the Owenites on the right and the pseudo-Labourites on the left. In trying to work out his own path without a political patron, Davis forged himself into the man the British public knows today.
From the backbenches, Davis took up the causes of leaving the European Community and reducing migration, prompting confusion by some on the left as to whether or not David Davis might be better off on the government benches. As staunch an SDP man as could exist, Davis dismissed the critics and began to lobby his fellow Social Democratic MPs to commit the party to tackling illegal immigration whilst attempting to reverse some of the privatisations of the 1980s. He may have seemed confused himself, but he pushed ahead and the 1994 manifesto would eventually come to recognise the need for a Migration Impact Fund for hard-hit communities and a commitment to reduce migration to the tens of thousands by the new millennium. In recognition of his influence, fellow South Londoner Roy Major appointed him Minister of State for Immigration in the May reshuffle of '97 and provided him with the funding to meet the 'migration crisis' head on. Sadly, Davis' time as a government minister would be short-lived and the SDP would be out of power again in 1999. Kevin Barron's win in the 1999 SDP leadership election meant Davis was out of favour once more and back on the backbenches to cause trouble. From there, he sniped at the government for attempting to intensify privatisation in the NHS and heckled his own party's Shadow Business Secretary (Harriet Harman) when she argued that skills shortages in the economy had to be met with relaxed immigration controls. From 1999 to 2010, he revived his maverick status and attempted to run for the leadership on two occasions (once in the shock challenge election of 2004 and again during the botched coronation of Iain Gray in 2007). Both times, he managed to come third.
However, his luck would change by 2010 and his old opponent, Iain Gray, gave him the portfolio shadowing Anthony Blair in order to show up the Tory minister as an out-of-touch toff taking an axe to working people's living standards. Davis proved his aptitude over the following two years, hounding the Secretary of State for cancelling certain payments and then flip-flopping on the issue in the run-up to the 2012 general election. In that election, Davis was returned for Lewisham Deptford and the SDP took power once more.
Now, he is one of the more popular SDP ministers in the Cabinet and is often wheeled out on television to smooth over poor government PR. His reversals of welfare cuts have been applauded by the left and his tough stance on Europe and immigration have even earned him the begrudging respect of the staff at the Daily Mail. Whilst unable to become leader in the past (but not for lack of trying), Davis' prospects have looked up over recent years and there are some who, in spite of the man's age, continue to talk him up as the prospective 'consensus candidate' once Gray retires as promised in the summer of 2017.
Throughout the 1980s, Davis became known as the easy-going South London boy who served (like Jack Straw and others of that generation) as David Owen's 'working-class conscience'. In various roles, most notably of which was 'Downing Street liaison to the Trades Union Congress', he attempted to connect the aloof Prime Minister to the party rank-and-file whilst attempting to increase trade union affiliation to the Social Democratic Party. It was an arduous task for even the toughest of political operators, but Davis utilised his charm and intelligence to balance both such difficult tasks. It is remarkable today (to political anoraks and trade union historians, at least) to say that trade union affiliations actually increased under the leadership of David Owen. His role and his demeanour towards some of Owen's more fanatical acolytes earned him the label of 'Left Owenite' during the waning years of the '80s SDP government. Whilst it is true that Davis felt unease with some of Owen's free market reforms during that period (privatisation of the Arts Council and the cutting of corporation tax to 20% in 1985 and 1988, respectively), questions have been raised about how left-wing he really was as he supported Owen undoubtedly during those years. His support did eventually pay off as Davis was selected for Lewisham Deptford (an SDP safe seat) in 1989 and won in the ensuing 'blue landslide' election of 1990. Out of power but in Parliament, Davis tried to cultivate his own distinct philosophy away from the Owenites on the right and the pseudo-Labourites on the left. In trying to work out his own path without a political patron, Davis forged himself into the man the British public knows today.
From the backbenches, Davis took up the causes of leaving the European Community and reducing migration, prompting confusion by some on the left as to whether or not David Davis might be better off on the government benches. As staunch an SDP man as could exist, Davis dismissed the critics and began to lobby his fellow Social Democratic MPs to commit the party to tackling illegal immigration whilst attempting to reverse some of the privatisations of the 1980s. He may have seemed confused himself, but he pushed ahead and the 1994 manifesto would eventually come to recognise the need for a Migration Impact Fund for hard-hit communities and a commitment to reduce migration to the tens of thousands by the new millennium. In recognition of his influence, fellow South Londoner Roy Major appointed him Minister of State for Immigration in the May reshuffle of '97 and provided him with the funding to meet the 'migration crisis' head on. Sadly, Davis' time as a government minister would be short-lived and the SDP would be out of power again in 1999. Kevin Barron's win in the 1999 SDP leadership election meant Davis was out of favour once more and back on the backbenches to cause trouble. From there, he sniped at the government for attempting to intensify privatisation in the NHS and heckled his own party's Shadow Business Secretary (Harriet Harman) when she argued that skills shortages in the economy had to be met with relaxed immigration controls. From 1999 to 2010, he revived his maverick status and attempted to run for the leadership on two occasions (once in the shock challenge election of 2004 and again during the botched coronation of Iain Gray in 2007). Both times, he managed to come third.
However, his luck would change by 2010 and his old opponent, Iain Gray, gave him the portfolio shadowing Anthony Blair in order to show up the Tory minister as an out-of-touch toff taking an axe to working people's living standards. Davis proved his aptitude over the following two years, hounding the Secretary of State for cancelling certain payments and then flip-flopping on the issue in the run-up to the 2012 general election. In that election, Davis was returned for Lewisham Deptford and the SDP took power once more.
Now, he is one of the more popular SDP ministers in the Cabinet and is often wheeled out on television to smooth over poor government PR. His reversals of welfare cuts have been applauded by the left and his tough stance on Europe and immigration have even earned him the begrudging respect of the staff at the Daily Mail. Whilst unable to become leader in the past (but not for lack of trying), Davis' prospects have looked up over recent years and there are some who, in spite of the man's age, continue to talk him up as the prospective 'consensus candidate' once Gray retires as promised in the summer of 2017.
