David Davis
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- For the American Supreme Court justice, see David Davis (justice).
David Michael Davis (born 23 December 1948) is a British Conservative politician who was the Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union from the time when the post was created, in the wake of the 2016 EU referendum, until his resignation in July 2018. He has been a Member of Parliament since 1987. Previously he was an executive in the sugar industry.
Quotes[edit]
On management of big projects[edit]
- Project managers who believe that closing down a project will wreck their careers are tempted to carry on in the hope they will have a slight chance of saving their reputations. Both courses carry the risk of disaster for those responsible for a project, but one—abandonment—is often far better for the company.
- "New Projects: Beware of False Economies", published in Harvard Business Review (March 1985)
On democracy and referendums[edit]
- There is a proper role for referendums in constitutional change, but only if done properly. If it is not done properly, it can be a dangerous tool. The Chairman of the Public Administration Committee, who is no longer in the Chamber, said that Clement Attlee—who is, I think, one of the Deputy Prime Minister's heroes—famously described the referendum as the device of demagogues and dictators. We may not always go as far as he did, but what is certain is that pre-legislative referendums of the type the Deputy Prime Minister is proposing are the worst type of all. ¶ Referendums should be held when the electorate are in the best possible position to make a judgment. They should be held when people can view all the arguments for and against and when those arguments have been rigorously tested. In short, referendums should be held when people know exactly what they are getting. So legislation should be debated by Members of Parliament on the Floor of the House, and then put to the electorate for the voters to judge. ¶ We should not ask people to vote on a blank sheet of paper and tell them to trust us to fill in the details afterwards. For referendums to be fair and compatible with our parliamentary process, we need the electors to be as well informed as possible and to know exactly what they are voting for. Referendums need to be treated as an addition to the parliamentary process, not as a substitute for it.
- If a democracy cannot change its mind, it ceases to be a democracy.
On Brexit[edit]
- It is time for Britain to take control of its own destiny
- EU deal gives UK special status, says David Cameron BBC News (20 February 2016)
- If we do a free trade agreement with Europe it will be beneficial for both sides, as it were, on its own two feet, without having to pay anything to do it. That's what we're aiming for.
- Government wants Brexit 'national consensus' BBC News (5 September 2016)
- There will be no downside to Brexit, only a considerable upside.
- David Davis brushes off Brexit retaliation fears (10 October 2016)
- The simple fact is that the mandate (in June's referendum) was to leave the European Union - full stop. We need to keep that in mind when we are going through that process.
- Labour says MPs are entitled to Brexit plan details BBC News (7 December 2016)
- Our laws will then be made in London, Edinburgh, Cardiff and Belfast and interpreted not by judges in Luxembourg but by judges across the United Kingdom
- Brexit: UK sets out plans to replace all EU laws BBC News (30 March 2017)
- Nobody has ever pretended that this will be easy. I have always said that this negotiation will be tough, complex and, at times, confrontational.
- During his statement on the progress of EU exit negotiations made in the House of Commons (5 September 2017). For previous contradictory statements on the ease of leaving the EU see #Controversies about David Davis quotes
- You can change the leader, you can't change the numbers. We've got to focus on the issue here, which is delivering on the Brexit demand of the British people. That means leaving the customs union and leaving the single market.
- Brexit: Minister rejects 'May should quit' reports BBC News (10 March 2019)
Controversies about David Davis quotes[edit]
- Nobody has ever pretended that this will be easy. I have always said that this negotiation will be tough, complex and, at times, confrontational.
- During his statement on the progress of EU exit negotiations made in the House of Commons (5 September 2017). Previous contradictory statements on the ease of leaving the EU, by his colleagues in government and fellow leave campaigners, include:
- The day after we vote to leave we hold all the cards and we can choose the path we want.
- Michael Gove (9 April 2016)
- There will continue to be free trade, and access to the single market.
- Boris Johnson (26 June 2016)
- Getting out of the EU can be quick and easy – the UK holds most of the cards in any negotiation.
- John Redwood (17 July 2016)
- To me, Brexit is easy.
- Nigel Farage (20 September 2016)
- The free trade agreement that we will have to do with the European Union should be one of the easiest in human history.
- Liam Fox (20 July 2017)
- The day after we vote to leave we hold all the cards and we can choose the path we want.
- During his statement on the progress of EU exit negotiations made in the House of Commons (5 September 2017). Previous contradictory statements on the ease of leaving the EU, by his colleagues in government and fellow leave campaigners, include:
Quotes about David Davis[edit]
- He works incredibly hard but he always likes to take August off.
- He's the only man I know who can swagger while sitting down.
- Anonymous Tory colleague (Date unknown)
- DD [David Davis] is manufactured exactly to specification as the perfect stooge for [Cabinet Secretary Jeremy] Heywood: thick as mince, lazy as a toad, & vain as Narcissus.
