Gareth Davies

Gareth Lloyd Davies (born 17 September 1988) is a Welsh Conservative politician who was Member of the Senedd (MS) for Vale of Clwyd from 2021 to 2026. He was the only Conservative to win this seat since its establishment in 1999.

Early life and education Born in 1988, Davies is the son of Steven and Susan Davies the couple was married in 1985. He attended Rydal Penrhos Senior School and Coleg Llandrillo Cymru. From 2010 to 2021, Davies worked in learning disability and mental health nursing, and physiotherapy for the NHS in Flintshire, North Wales. he was elected to Denbighshire County Council, representing the Prestatyn South West ward. He also serves the Prestatyn South West ward on Prestatyn Town Council. He was elected to the Welsh Parliament, known as the Senedd, to represent the Vale of Clwyd constituency on 7 May 2021. Following a Shadow Cabinet Reshuffle in April 2024, Davies was appointed Shadow Minister for Mental Health and Early years. He maintained this role until Andrew RT Davies stood down as leader of the Welsh Conservatives in December 2024, whereupon his successor Darren Millar appointed him Shadow Cabinet Secretary for Culture, Tourism, Sport, and North Wales. He also now sits on the Senedd's Culture, Communications, Welsh Language, Sport, and International Relations Committee.

On 30 June 2021, Davies delivered the first Members Legislative proposal of the 6th Senedd. He proposed new legislation which would ensure a rights-based approach to services for older people in Wales. His proposal won the backing of Senedd Members, despite opposition from Welsh Government.

In October 2021, there was a vote in the Senedd for the introduction of vaccine passports in Wales. Davies missed the chance to vote in-person as he was at the Conservative Party Conference in Manchester, and so attempted to cast his vote against the measure via Zoom. He was unable to do so, and the motion passed by a single vote, 28 votes to 27.

In March 2023 Davies caused controversy after stating in the Senedd that there are "too many" Gypsy and Traveller sites in North Wales and adding that, "The simple message is that we don't want them". He was asked to "rethink" his comments by Social Justice Minister Jane Hutt. His remarks were also condemned by gypsy and traveller advocates. Davies subsequently apologised for his remarks.

He has openly discussed serving as a politician with bipolar disorder, having been diagnosed a year prior his election to the Senedd in 2021. He is also an ambassador for the charity Bipolar UK and an advocate for ending the stigma surrounding mental illness.

In the 2026 Senedd election, he was second candidate on the Conservative party list in the Clwyd constituency, but was not elected.

Personal life In 2018, Davies married Catrin Jones; the couple have a son. Outside of politics, he enjoys football, rugby, cricket, running and mountaineering.