Geraint Rhys Davies (born 1 December 1948) is a Welsh Plaid Cymru politician. He was the National Assembly for Wales Member for Rhondda from 1999 to 2003.
Geraint Davies | |
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![]() Geraint Davies in 1999 | |
Member of the Welsh Assembly for Rhondda | |
In office 6 May 1999 – 1 May 2003 | |
Preceded by | New Assembly |
Succeeded by | Leighton Andrews |
Personal details | |
Born | Treherbert, Wales | 1 December 1948
Political party | Plaid Cymru |
Alma mater | University of London |
Background
editThis biographical section is written like a résumé. (June 2024) |
Davies attended Pentre Grammar School, Chelsea College, and the University of London.
He was a pharmacist in Treherbert.[1]
Post-Graduate Training, Rookwood Hospital, Cardiff 1971–72. Relief Manager and Manager, Boots the Chemists 1972–75. Self-Employed Community Pharmacist in Treherbert since 1975. President of Blaenrhondda Football Club and a deacon at Blaencwm Baptist church. School Governor.
Political career
editLocal Government
editDavies served a councillor on District of Rhondda Council until its abolition 1996 as well as a County Borough Councillor for the ward of Treherbert in Rhondda Cynon Taff from 1995 to 2004 and again from 2012 to 2022 when he stood down at the age of 73.After serving the Treherbert Ward for 42 years.
National Assembly for Wales
editDavies was elected as the Assembly Member for the Rhondda Valley in the first National Assembly for Wales election, in a surprise upset in a traditionally safe Welsh Labour area.[2][3] He defeated Wayne David, former leader of the Labour Party in the European Parliament to take the seat, with a majority of 2,285.[4]
He served Plaid Cymru's spokesperson for the South Wales Valleys,[5] and was a member of the Local Government Partnership Council and Health and Social Services Committee.
In 2002 he was part of a Plaid delegation who went on a 4-day visit to Palestine, and met Yasser Arafat.[6][7] He was critical of the response to ongoing conflict in Israel and Palestine, and at Plaid's 2002 Conference described Tony Blair as tough on terrorism but not on the "causes of terrorism" and said that Israel showed "total and blatant disregard of UN resolutions".[8]
He lost his seat in 2003, coming second, and 7,954 votes short of Leighton Andrews, who took the seat for Welsh Labour.[9] He did not seek election to the Assembly again.
References
edit- ^ Engel, Matthew (28 April 1999). "Britain goes to the polls: Labour strains loyalties in valleys; The fix which secured the leadership for Alun Michael has badly damaged Tony Blair's reputation in Wales". The Guardian. p. 12.
- ^ Percival, Jenny (8 May 1999). "LABOUR WILTS IN THE VALLEYS AS PLAID CYMRU TAKES ROOT". The Scotsman. p. 4.
- ^ Elliot, Valerie (8 May 1999). "Plaid gains in Valleys no surprised to Wigley". The Times.
- ^ "BBC News | Elections | Wales 99 | Constituencies | Rhondda". news.bbc.co.uk. Retrieved 25 June 2024.
- ^ "SPEED OF DAMAGES PAYMENTS ATTACKED BY PLAID". South Wales Echo. 14 November 2001. p. 17.
- ^ Hazlewood, Richard (9 May 2002). "PLAID POLITICIANS MEET UP WITH YASSER ARAFAT". South Wales Echo. p. 22.
- ^ "VISITING POLITICIANS FEAR ARAFAT IS ILL". Western Mail. 10 May 2002. p. 5.
- ^ Bodden, Tom; Lyons, Jamie (23 September 2002). "PLAID INSENSITIVE FOR STAND ON BOMBINGS". Daily Post (North Wales). p. 11.
- ^ "BBC NEWS | VOTE 2003 | Rhondda". news.bbc.co.uk. Retrieved 25 June 2024.
External links
editOffices held
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