Ernest Albert John Davies (18 May 1902 – 16 September 1991) was a

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journalist, author and Labour Party politician.

Early life

Born in London, Davies was the son of

Albert Emil Davies Albert Emil Davies (16 November 1875 – 18 July 1950) was a British politician and writer. Born in London, Davies became active in the Fabian Society. There, he was the most vocal advocate of nationalisation, his early works including ''The Na ...

, a writer, lecturer and prominent Labour Party member of the

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. Davies was educated at

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and the

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, graduating with a

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. In 1922 he travelled to the

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where he worked for a number of years. He married Natalie Rossin of

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in 1926 and the couple had three children.

Journalism

From 1929 until 1932, Davies was editor of '' The Clarion'', a weekly

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newspaper, and in 1932 became associate editor of its short-lived successor the ''New Clarion''. From 1938 until 1940, he was the Governor for the

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(an educational foundation). From 1940 to 1945, he worked for the

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, becoming its North American Service Organiser in 1944. That same year, he divorced his first wife, marrying Peggy Yeo, with whom he had a daughter. He returned to journalism after he lost his seat in parliament, and was managing editor of ''Traffic Engineering and Control'' from 1960–76 and managing editor of ''Antique Finder'' from 1962–72.

Politics

Davies joined the

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in 1919 and the Labour Party in 1924. At the 1935 general election he was the party's candidate for the seat of

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, but failed to be elected. With elections postponed due to

World War II World War II or the Second World War (1 September 1939 – 2 September 1945) was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War II, Allies and the Axis powers. World War II by country, Nearly all of the wo ...

, Davies did not contest another election until

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. He became Member of Parliament for Enfield, one of many new Labour MPs who were elected in a landslide victory. He was appointed parliamentary private secretary to

Hector McNeil Hector McNeil (10 March 1907 – 11 October 1955) was a Scottish Labour politician who was Secretary of State for Scotland from 1950 to 1951. Life McNeil was born in Garelochhead and educated at Woodside School and the University of Glasgow ...

, Minister of State at the

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. Following boundary changes, Davies was elected to the new constituency of Enfield East at the 1950 general election. He was briefly parliamentary under-secretary of state for Foreign Affairs under

Ernest Bevin Ernest Bevin (9 March 1881 – 14 April 1951) was a British statesman, trade union leader and Labour Party politician. He co-founded and served as General Secretary of the powerful Transport and General Workers' Union from 1922 to 1940 and ...

and

Herbert Morrison Herbert Stanley Morrison, Baron Morrison of Lambeth, (3 January 1888 – 6 March 1965) was a British politician who held a variety of senior positions in the Cabinet as a member of the Labour Party. During the inter-war period, he was Minist ...

before Labour lost power at the 1951 general election. He retired from parliament at the 1959 general election.

Publications

* Finance. How money is managed (Editor) (Odhams Press, London, 1935) * How much Compensation? A problem of transfer from private to public enterprise (Victor Gollancz; New Fabian Research Bureau, London, 1937) * "National" Capitalism: the government's record as protector of private monopoly (Victor Gollancz, London, 1939) * The State and the Railways (Victor Gollancz; Fabian Society, London, 1940) * American Labour: the story of the American trade union movement (George Allen & Unwin; Fabian Society, London, 1943) * British Transport: a study in industrial organisation and control (Fabian Publications, ondon,1945) * National Enterprise: the development of the public corporation (Victor Gollancz, London, 1946) * Nationalization of Transport (Labour Party, London,

947 Year 947 (Roman numerals, CMXLVII) was a common year starting on Friday of the Julian calendar. Events By place Europe * Summer – A Principality of Hungary, Hungarian army led by Grand Prince Taksony of Hungary, Taksony campaign ...

* Problems of Public Ownership (Labour Party, London,

952 Year 952 (Roman numerals, CMLII) was a leap year starting on Thursday of the Julian calendar. Events By place Europe * Summer – At the Imperial Diet (Holy Roman Empire), Reichstag in Augsburg (assembled by King Otto I (Holy Roman ...

* Roads and their Traffic (Editor) (Blackie & Son, London & Glasgow, 1960). * Britain's Transport Crisis: a socialist's view (Arthur Barker, ondon, 1960 * Traffic Engineering and Control (Managing Editor), 1960–76 * Transport in Greater London (London School of Economics and Political Science: ondon,1962) * Antique Finder (Managing Editor), 1962–72 * Traffic Engineering Practice (editor) (E. & F. N. Spon, London, 1963) The

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has a collection of papers relating to his political work (dated from approximately 1935 to 1987)

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Davies, Ernest 1902 births 1991 deaths Alumni of the University of London Labour Party (UK) MPs for English constituencies Members of the Fabian Society Ministers in the Attlee governments, 1945–1951 Ministers in the Wilson governments, 1964–1970 People educated at Wycliffe College, Gloucestershire UK MPs 1945–1950 UK MPs 1950–1951 UK MPs 1951–1955 UK MPs 1955–1959