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'''Sir Edward Jonathan Davey''' {{post-nominals|country=GBR|FRSA}} (born 25 December 1965) is a British politician who
Davey was born in [[Mansfield]], Nottinghamshire. After both his parents died before he was 16, Davey was raised by his grandparents, and subsequently attended [[Nottingham High School]]. He then went on to study at [[Jesus College, Oxford]], and [[Birkbeck, University of London]]. He was an economics researcher and [[financial analyst]] before being elected to the [[House of Commons of the United Kingdom|House of Commons]]. Davey served as a [[Liberal Democrat frontbench team|Liberal Democrat spokesperson]] to [[Charles Kennedy]], [[Menzies Campbell]] and [[Nick Clegg]] from 2005 to 2010, in various portfolios including [[Department for Education and Skills (United Kingdom)|Education and Skills]], [[Department of Trade and Industry (United Kingdom)|Trade and Industry]], and [[Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs]].
In 2010, after the Liberal Democrats entered into a [[Cameron–Clegg coalition|coalition government]] with the [[Conservative Party (UK)|Conservative Party]], Davey served as [[Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State]] for [[Department for Business, Innovation and Skills|Employment Relations, Consumer and Postal Affairs]] from 2010 to 2012,<ref>{{cite web |title=Rt Hon Sir Edward Davey MP |url=http://www.parliament.uk/biographies/commons/sir-edward-davey/188 |url-status=live |website=UK Parliament |access-date=14 June 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170722062111/http://www.parliament.uk/biographies/commons/sir-edward-davey/188 |archive-date=22 July 2017}}</ref> and in [[David Cameron]]'s [[Cabinet of the United Kingdom|Cabinet]] as [[Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change]] from 2012 to 2015, following [[Chris Huhne]]'s resignation.<ref>{{cite web |title=Ed Davey |url=https://www.theguardian.com/profile/ed-davey |url-status=live |work=The Guardian |access-date=14 December 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170710211015/https://www.theguardian.com/profile/ed-davey |archive-date=10 July 2017}}</ref> Davey focused on increasing competition in the energy market by removing [[barriers to entry]] for smaller companies, and streamlining the [[customer switching]] process.<ref>{{cite news |title=Davey vows faster energy switching |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-24747183 |url-status=live |work=BBC News |date=31 October 2013 |access-date=10 December 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180104093708/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-24747183 |archive-date=4 January 2018}}</ref> He also approved the construction of [[Hinkley Point C nuclear power station]].<ref>{{cite news |title=New nuclear power plant approved |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-21839684 |url-status=live |work=BBC News |date=20 March 2013 |access-date=10 December 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180103155430/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-21839684 |archive-date=3 January 2018}}</ref> Davey did not investigate the details of the [[British Post Office scandal|Horizon Post Office scandal]] that had led to the wrongful prosecution of hundreds of sub-postmasters. He was, however, the only Post Office minister to meet [[Alan Bates (subpostmaster)|Alan Bates]], the founder of the Justice for Subpostmasters Alliance.
He lost his seat in the [[2015 United Kingdom general election|2015 general election]] and was [[knight]]ed in the [[2016 New Year Honours|2016 New Years Honours List]] for political and public service. He regained his seat in the [[2017 United Kingdom general election|2017 general election]], and served as the [[Liberal Democrat Home Affairs spokesperson]] from 2017 to 2019. In July 2019, after the retirement of [[Vince Cable]], Davey unsuccessfully ran against Jo Swinson in a [[2019 Liberal Democrats leadership election|leadership election]], and was later appointed [[Liberal Democrat Treasury spokesperson]] and [[2019 Liberal Democrats deputy leadership election|elected unopposed]] as [[Deputy leader of the Liberal Democrats]]. After Swinson lost her seat at the [[2019 United Kingdom general election|2019 general election]], Davey, while remaining Deputy Leader, served as Acting Leader alongside the [[President of the Liberal Democrats|Liberal Democrat Presidents]] [[Sal Brinton|Baroness Brinton]] and [[Mark Pack]] from December 2019 to August 2020.<ref>{{cite web |title=Jo Swinson quits as Lib Dem leader with Sir Ed Davey and Baroness Sal Brinton to take over |url=https://www.standard.co.uk/news/politics/sir-ed-davey-baroness-sal-brinton-acting-lib-dem-leaders-a4312616.html |website=[[Evening Standard]] |date=13 December 2019 |access-date=13 December 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191213065101/https://www.standard.co.uk/news/politics/sir-ed-davey-baroness-sal-brinton-acting-lib-dem-leaders-a4312616.html |archive-date=13 December 2019 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Sir Ed Davey and Baroness Sal Brinton will become the joint acting leaders of the Liberal Democrats following Jo Swinson's election defeat, the party has said |url=https://www.lbc.co.uk/news/ed-davey-brinton-replace-jo-swinson-lib-dem-leader/ |publisher=[[LBC]] |access-date=13 December 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191213103823/https://www.lbc.co.uk/news/ed-davey-brinton-replace-jo-swinson-lib-dem-leader/ |archive-date=13 December 2019 |url-status=live}}</ref>
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Davey led his party in the [[2024 general election (UK)|2024 general election]], and was noted, with praise and criticism, for his campaign stunts.<ref>{{cite web |date=31 May 2024 |title=Lib Dems aim to grab attention with campaign stunts |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c844p844eqxo |access-date=31 May 2024 |website=BBC News |archive-date=15 June 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240615124843/https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c844p844eqxo |url-status=live }}</ref> When visiting [[Windermere]], Davey fell off his [[Paddleboarding|paddleboard]], whilst campaigning to highlight the political issue of [[sewage discharge in the United Kingdom]].<ref>{{cite news |last=Rawlinson |first=Kevin |date=28 May 2024 |title=Stunts, sewage and serious messaging: Lib Dems hope to capitalise on outrage at water pollution |url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/article/2024/may/28/stunts-sewage-and-serious-messaging-lib-dems-hope-to-capitalise-on-outrage-at-water-pollution |access-date=1 June 2024 |work=The Guardian |issn=0261-3077 |archive-date=15 June 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240615124843/https://www.theguardian.com/politics/article/2024/may/28/stunts-sewage-and-serious-messaging-lib-dems-hope-to-capitalise-on-outrage-at-water-pollution |url-status=live }}</ref> A couple of days later, Davey won high-profile media attention when going down a [[Slip 'N Slide]], whilst drawing attention to deteriorating [[Mental health in the United Kingdom#Children and adolescents|mental health among children]]. When visiting [[Eastbourne (UK Parliament constituency)|Eastbourne]], Davey did a bungee jump, asking people to "take the plunge" and vote Liberal Democrat.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-07-01 |title=Lib Dems plunge head first into final week of campaign |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cp6871w1lzko |access-date=2024-07-01 |website=BBC News |language=en-GB |archive-date=3 July 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240703010919/https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cp6871w1lzko |url-status=live }}</ref> When asked about these stunts, Davey said: "Politicians need to take the concerns and interests of voters seriously but I'm not sure they need to take themselves seriously all the time and I'm quite happy to have some fun".<ref>{{cite AV media |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/tv/news/ed-davey-stunt-lib-dems-election-b2554371.html |title=Ed Davey rides rubber ring on waterslide as Lib Dems campaign about children's mental health |date=31 May 2024 |last=Patrick |first=Holly |access-date=1 June 2024 |via=www.independent.co.uk |archive-date=1 June 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240601145443/https://www.independent.co.uk/tv/news/ed-davey-stunt-lib-dems-election-b2554371.html |url-status=live }}</ref>
On 10 June 2024, Davey launched the Liberal Democrat [[manifesto]], titled ''[[For a Fair Deal]]'', in London.<ref>{{cite web |date=10 June 2024 |title=General Election 2024: A quick take on the Lib Dem's manifesto |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/videos/ce44z03r3e3o |access-date=10 June 2024 |website=BBC News }}</ref> He stressed that the Lib Dems are a "pro-European party"; the manifesto includes a promise for the UK to rejoin the [[European single market]].<ref>{{cite web |date=10 June 2024 |title=Ed Davey says Lib Dems would fight for UK to rejoin EU and one day overturn Brexit |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/ed-davey-lib-dem-general-election-eu-b2559865.html |access-date=10 June 2024 |website=The Independent |archive-date=10 June 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240610144025/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/ed-davey-lib-dem-general-election-eu-b2559865.html |url-status=live }}</ref> Midway through the campaign, opinion pollsters [[YouGov]] found that 35% of Liberal Democrat voters did not recognise a photograph of Davey.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://yougov.co.uk/politics/articles/49836-one-in-three-lib-dem-voters-dont-recognise-ed-davey |title=One in three Lib Dem voters don't recognise Ed Davey |website=YouGov |date=2024-06-22 |access-date=2024-06-22 |archive-date=1 July 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240701154635/https://yougov.co.uk/politics/articles/49836-one-in-three-lib-dem-voters-dont-recognise-ed-davey |url-status=live }}</ref> Amid the [[2024 United Kingdom general election betting scandal|general election betting scandal]], Davey, whilst admitting that he had previously bet on the outcome of elections,
Davey led his party to both their highest ever number of seats and the highest number of seats for a third party since [[1923 United Kingdom general election|1923]], restoring the Liberal Democrats as the third largest party in the House of Commons.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Henry |first=Charlotte |date=2024-07-05 |title=Why the Lib Dems did so well |url=https://www.spectator.co.uk/article/why-the-lib-dems-did-so-well/ |access-date=2024-07-06 |website=The Spectator |language=en-US}}</ref> He celebrated by singing [[Neil Diamond]]'s "[[Sweet Caroline]]" at a Liberal Democrat party.<ref>{{Cite news |last=X {{!}} @EllieSwintonITV |first=Source |date=2024-07-05 |title=Ed Davey sings Sweet Caroline as Lib Dems celebrate historic election – video |url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/video/2024/jul/05/ed-davey-sings-sweet-caroline-as-lib-dems-celebrate-historic-election-performance-video |access-date=2024-07-11 |work=The Guardian |language=en-GB |issn=0261-3077}}</ref> This will also make Davey able to ask two questions to [[Keir Starmer]] each week at [[Prime Minister's Questions]]. Davey said he was humbled by the results, and jokingly said: "I've rather enjoyed this campaign".<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-07-05 |title=Sir Ed Davey hails 'record-breaking' night for Liberal Democrats |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c51y2z7jdz9o |access-date=2024-07-06 |website=BBC News |language=en-GB}}</ref> He
==Views==
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In November 2023, Davey expressed support for a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip following the [[Israel–Hamas war]], saying that "it is increasingly clear that a military solution to eliminate [[Hamas]] is not possible. With a devastating humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza, an ongoing hostage situation, and growing risk of regional escalation, we must urgently demand a different approach."<ref>{{cite news |title=Liberal Democrats call for 'immediate bilateral ceasefire' in Israel-Hamas war |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/ed-davey-lib-dems-gaza-ceasefire-israel-b2446158.html |work=The Independent |date=13 November 2023 |access-date=7 January 2024 |archive-date=7 January 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240107104737/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/ed-davey-lib-dems-gaza-ceasefire-israel-b2446158.html |url-status=live }}</ref>
He condemned the [[attempted assassination of Donald Trump]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Hennessey |first=Ted |date=2024-07-14 |title=UK politicians condemn assassination attempt on former US president Donald Trump |url=https://www.standard.co.uk/news/politics/nigel-farage-donald-trump-keir-starmer-pennsylvania-rishi-sunak-b1170590.html |access-date=2024-07-14 |website=Evening Standard |language=en}}</ref>
== Business appointments ==
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Davey speaks [[English language|English]], [[French language|French]], [[German language|German]] and [[Spanish language|Spanish]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.politics.co.uk/reference/edward-jonathon-davey|title=Edward Davey|website=politics.co.uk|access-date=2 May 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180503112517/http://www.politics.co.uk/reference/edward-jonathon-davey|archive-date=3 May 2018|url-status=dead}}</ref> He is a supporter of [[Notts County Football Club]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.politics.co.uk/reference/edward-davey/|title=Ed Davey – Who is the Lib Dem Leader?|website=Politics.co.uk|access-date=4 September 2023|archive-date=4 September 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230904151044/https://www.politics.co.uk/reference/edward-davey/|url-status=live}}</ref>
==Honours==
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