Robert Davis (politician)

Robert Davis
Born Robert Jonathan Davis
September 1957 (age 61)
Residence London, England
Nationality British
Education Christ's College, Finchley
Alma mater Gonville and Caius College, Cambridge
Occupation Lawyer and politician
Political party Conservative
Partner(s)
Sir Simon Milton
(m. 2007; his death 2011)

Robert Jonathan Davis MBE DL (born September 1957) is a British lawyer and Conservative Party politician, the former deputy leader of the Westminster City Council, and chairman of its planning committee for 17 years.[1]

Early life

Robert Davis was born in September 1957.[2] He is the son of Gerald Davis (died 2000) and Pamela Davis née Lee.[3]

He was educated at Christ's College, Finchley,[3] followed by Gonville and Caius College, Cambridge,[4] Wolfson College, Cambridge, after which he trained as a solicitor at the College of Law in London's Lancaster Gate.[5] He was admitted as a solicitor in October 1983.[6]

From 1985 to 2015, Davis was a partner (now a consultant) in solicitors' firm Freeman Box, Bentinck Street, Marylebone, London, and he specialises in property law.[5][3]

Political career

In 1982, Davis was first elected to Westminster City Council, and at the time of his resignation was its longest serving Councillor.[7]

From 1996 to 1997, he was the then youngest Lord Mayor of Westminster.[7]

Davis was deputy leader of the Westminster City Council from January 2017 till October 2018., and its cabinet member for business, culture and heritage.[1] In October 2018, following criticism of "the large scale of gifts and hospitality" received by Davis from property developers, he resigned his position and seat.[8][9]

Allegations

On 7 March 2018, Davis stood down from his roles after The Guardian reported into how he had received nearly 900 gifts or been entertained, during the period from 2012 to 2017, much of it from property developers.[10][1]

Davis enjoyed hospitality from leading property developers, including Gerald Ronson, Sir Stuart Lipton and Sir George Iacobescu.[1] Council rules require that any gifts or hospitality valued at £25 or more have to be declared, and Davis's register included trips to Switzerland, Spain, France, the US, and Scotland's Gleneagles Hotel and golf resort.[1]

Westminster's legal director is investigating whether Davis has breached the code of conduct, and the independent barrister James Goudie QC is helping with the investigation.[10]

The independent investigation by Sir Stephen Lamport, which reported in October 2018, found that Davis had "breached the code of conduct" and that his "acceptance of gifts and hospitality from developers before or after a planning decision may … have placed him in a position in which people might seek to influence him in the performance of his duties."[8][9]

Honours and awards

Davis is a Deputy Lieutenant for Greater London.[7] In 2015, he was awarded an MBE for services to local government and planning.[7]

Personal life

His long-term partner (until his death in 2011) was Sir Simon Milton, who had been leader of Westminster City Council and Deputy Mayor of London to Boris Johnson.[4] In 2007, they entered into a civil partnership at London's Ritz Hotel.[4]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 "'Freebie' councillor steps aside in probe". 8 March 2018. Retrieved 9 March 2018 – via www.bbc.co.uk.
  2. ↑ "Robert Jonathan DAVIS - Personal Appointments (free information from Companies House)". beta.companieshouse.gov.uk. Retrieved 9 March 2018.
  3. 1 2 3 Lucy Hume (5 October 2017). People of Today 2017. Debrett's. pp. 1–. ISBN 978-1-9997670-3-7. Retrieved 9 March 2018.
  4. 1 2 3 "Sir Simon Milton". 12 April 2011. Retrieved 9 March 2018 – via www.telegraph.co.uk.
  5. 1 2 "Cllr Robert Davis". www.newlondonarchitecture.org. Retrieved 9 March 2018.
  6. ↑ http://solicitors.lawsociety.org.uk/person/278103/robert-jonathan-davis
  7. 1 2 3 4 "Robert Davis". City of Westminster Conservatives. Retrieved 9 March 2018.
  8. 1 2 Booth, Robert (10 October 2018). "Tory Westminster councillor resigns after hospitality inquiry". The Guardian. Retrieved 11 October 2018.
  9. 1 2 "Westminster councillor Robert Davis resigns over conduct investigation". BBC. 10 October 2018. Retrieved 11 October 2018.
  10. 1 2 Booth, Robert; Duncan, Pamela (8 March 2018). "Westminster deputy leader took gifts in 50% of his planning cases". the Guardian. Retrieved 9 March 2018.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.