Editing Ed Davey (section)

===Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Business (2010–2012)===
[[File:Edward Davey (cropped).jpg|thumb|upright=0.75|Davey's portrait as Minister for Employment Relations, circa 2012]]
Following the [[Conservative–Liberal Democrat coalition agreement]], after the [[2010 United Kingdom general election|2010 general election]], Davey was appointed [[Parliamentary Under Secretary of State]] in the [[Department for Business, Innovation and Skills]]<ref>[http://www.cabinetoffice.gov.uk/government-business/government-ministers-responsibilities.aspx Government ministers and responsibilities] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101110121054/http://www.cabinetoffice.gov.uk/government-business/government-ministers-responsibilities.aspx |date=10 November 2010}} Cabinet Office</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/8675705.stm |title=Cameron's government: A guide to who's who|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211024181610/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/8675705.stm |archive-date=24 October 2021 |work=BBC News |date=30 May 2010}}</ref> with responsibility for Employment Relations, Consumer and Postal Affairs.<ref>[http://www.bis.gov.uk/ministers/edward-davey Edward Davey] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100619080603/http://www.bis.gov.uk/ministers/edward-davey |date=19 June 2010}} Department for Business, Innovation and Skills</ref><ref>[http://www.personneltoday.com/articles/2010/05/20/55645/ed-davey-is-new-employment-minister.html Ed Davey is new employment minister] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100524075619/http://www.personneltoday.com/articles/2010/05/20/55645/ed-davey-is-new-employment-minister.html |date=24 May 2010}} Personnel Today, 20 May 2010</ref> In addition, he was appointed as the [[Minister of State for Trade Policy]].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.gov.uk/government/news/ministerial-responsibilities-announced-at-the-department-for-business-innovation-and-skills--2|title=Ministerial responsibilities announced at the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills|work=GOV.UK|access-date=2 May 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180503180151/https://www.gov.uk/government/news/ministerial-responsibilities-announced-at-the-department-for-business-innovation-and-skills--2|archive-date=3 May 2018|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.gov.uk/government/news/business-secretary-welcomes-free-trade-agreement-signature|title=Business Secretary welcomes Free Trade Agreement signature|work=GOV.UK|access-date=2 May 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180503180332/https://www.gov.uk/government/news/business-secretary-welcomes-free-trade-agreement-signature|archive-date=3 May 2018|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm201012/cmselect/cmbis/735/11031002.htm|title=House of Commons – Business, Innovation and Skills Committee – Minutes of Evidence|last=Commons|first=The Committee Office, House of|website=publications.parliament.uk|access-date=2 May 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180503111708/https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm201012/cmselect/cmbis/735/11031002.htm|archive-date=3 May 2018|url-status=live}}</ref> As a [[Parliamentary Under Secretary]], Davey led the establishment of an unofficial 'like-minded group for growth' [[ginger group]] within the [[European Union]], convening several economically liberal European governments behind an agenda of [[deregulation]], [[free trade]], [[liberalisation]] of [[Public service|services]] and a [[digital single market]].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2012/jan/02/tory-eurosceptics-lib-dems-europe|title=Coalition MPs in bid to find common agenda on European policy|last=Wintour|first=Patrick|date=2 January 2012|work=The Guardian|access-date=18 November 2017|issn=0261-3077|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171201132121/https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2012/jan/02/tory-eurosceptics-lib-dems-europe|archive-date=1 December 2017|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.newstatesman.com/politics/politics/2013/05/eurosceptic-tories-are-damaging-national-interest-and-their-chances-winnin|title=Eurosceptic Tories are damaging the national interest – and their chances of winning the next election|website=www.newstatesman.com|access-date=18 November 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180719233357/https://www.newstatesman.com/politics/politics/2013/05/eurosceptic-tories-are-damaging-national-interest-and-their-chances-winnin|archive-date=19 July 2018|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.gov.uk/government/news/likeminded-european-ministers-meet-to-talk-about-growth|title=Likeminded European Ministers meet to talk about growth|website=www.gov.uk|access-date=18 November 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171201032523/https://www.gov.uk/government/news/likeminded-european-ministers-meet-to-talk-about-growth|archive-date=1 December 2017|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name=":2">{{cite book|title=The coalition effect, 2010–2015|others=Seldon, Anthony,, Finn, Mike|isbn=9781139946551|location=Cambridge|oclc=906945736|last1 = Seldon|first1 = Anthony|last2=Finn|first2=Mike|year=2015}}</ref><ref name=":5" /> He was involved in the provisional application phase of the Free Trade Agreement between the EU and South Korea.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-britain-korea/eu-south-korea-trade-pact-to-boost-local-firms-minister-idUKTRE75T63E20110630|title=EU – South Korea trade pact to boost local firms – minister|last=Croft|first=Adrian|work=U.K.|access-date=2 May 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180503113059/https://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-britain-korea/eu-south-korea-trade-pact-to-boost-local-firms-minister-idUKTRE75T63E20110630|archive-date=3 May 2018|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm201012/cmgeneral/deleg3/120117/120117s01.htm|title=House of Commons General Committee : Draft European Union (Definition of Treaties) (Republic of Korea Free Trade Agreement) Order 2011 (17 January 2012)|website=publications.parliament.uk|access-date=2 May 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180503112417/https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm201012/cmgeneral/deleg3/120117/120117s01.htm|archive-date=3 May 2018|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukia/2010/355/pdfs/ukia_20100355_en.pdf |title=Archived copy |access-date=3 May 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180503112001/https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukia/2010/355/pdfs/ukia_20100355_en.pdf |archive-date=3 May 2018 |url-status=live}}</ref>

In January 2011, he faced protests by [[postal worker]]s in his Kingston and Surbiton constituency for his role in the privatisation of [[Royal Mail]].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/business/news/postal-workers-to-protest-against-privatisation-2190828.html|title=Postal workers to protest against privatisation|date=21 January 2011|work=The Independent|access-date=26 November 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171201040111/http://www.independent.co.uk/news/business/news/postal-workers-to-protest-against-privatisation-2190828.html|archive-date=1 December 2017|url-status=live}}</ref> Also in 2011, Davey announced several reforms to the [[labour market]], mainly aimed at improving [[labour market flexibility]]. These reforms included cuts to [[red tape]] and easing dismissal laws, and were accompanied by reviews from the [[Institute of Economic Affairs]] into compensation payments and the [[TUPE]]. Davey also announced that the government would abolish the default retirement age.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/law/2011/may/11/unions-attack-plans-to-reform-employment-laws|title=Unions attack plans to reform employment laws|last1=Mulholland|first1=Hélène|date=11 May 2011|work=The Guardian|access-date=19 November 2017|issn=0261-3077|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171201081358/https://www.theguardian.com/law/2011/may/11/unions-attack-plans-to-reform-employment-laws|archive-date=1 December 2017|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/jobs/8505984/Sackings-to-be-made-easier-and-payouts-cut-in-war-on-red-tape.html|title=Sackings to be made easier and payouts cut in war on red tape|last=Kirkup|first=James|newspaper=The Daily Telegraph|date=11 May 2011|access-date=19 November 2017|issn=0307-1235|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171203043915/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/jobs/8505984/Sackings-to-be-made-easier-and-payouts-cut-in-war-on-red-tape.html|archive-date=3 December 2017|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/uk-politics-12182648/government-s-retirement-plan-to-boost-economy|title=Retirement plan to 'boost economy'|work=BBC News|access-date=19 November 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180103035227/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/uk-politics-12182648/government-s-retirement-plan-to-boost-economy|archive-date=3 January 2018|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.gov.uk/government/news/tackling-employment-law-red-tape--2|title=Tackling employment law red tape – GOV.UK|website=www.gov.uk|access-date=19 November 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171201061203/https://www.gov.uk/government/news/tackling-employment-law-red-tape--2|archive-date=1 December 2017|url-status=live}}</ref>

As Minister for Postal Affairs, Davey did not investigate the details of the [[British Post Office scandal|Horizon Post Office scandal]] that had led to the wrongful prosecution of hundreds of sub-postmasters. He was, however, the only Post Office minister to meet [[Alan Bates (subpostmaster)|Alan Bates]], the founder of the Justice for Subpostmasters Alliance, with this meeting taking place in October 2010.<ref name="auto">{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2024/jan/08/ed-davey-accuses-post-office-of-conspiracy-of-lies-as-he-defends-role-in-scandal|title=Ed Davey attacks Post Office 'conspiracy of lies' as he defends role in scandal|first=Pippa|last=Crerar|date=8 January 2024|access-date=24 January 2024|work=The Guardian}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.libdems.org.uk/the-post-office-horizon-scandal|title=The Post Office Horizon Scandal|website=www.libdems.org.uk|access-date=24 January 2024|archive-date=17 January 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240117133430/https://www.libdems.org.uk/the-post-office-horizon-scandal|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-politics-67892045|title=Post Office misled me about scandal, insists Ed Davey|date=5 January 2024|access-date=24 January 2024|work=BBC News|archive-date=25 January 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240125041048/https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-politics-67892045|url-status=live}}</ref> Following criticism in 2024, Davey expressed regret and said that he had been misled by [[Post Office Limited|Post Office]] officials.<ref>{{cite web |last=Soteriou|first=Emma |date=3 January 2024 |title='I regret not asking tougher questions': Former postal minister Ed Davey breaks silence on Horizon scandal|url=https://www.lbc.co.uk/news/horizon-scandal-ed-davey-former-postal-minister-breaks-silence/|access-date=4 January 2024 |publisher=LBC}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.reuters.com/world/uk/what-is-britains-post-office-scandal-2024-01-09/|title=Explainer: What is Britain's Post Office scandal?|first=Sachin |last=Ravikumar|date=10 January 2024|access-date=10 January 2024|work=[[Reuters]]}}</ref> Following [[Paula Vennells]]'s decision to hand back her [[CBE]] over her role during the scandal, Davey came under pressure to return his knighthood because of his role during it.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Gutteridge |first1=Nick |last2=Penna |first2=Dominic |date=9 January 2024 |title=Pressure on Ed Davey over knighthood after Post Office boss hands back CBE |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/politics/2024/01/09/ed-davey-paula-vennells-post-office-horizon-it-scandal |work=The Telegraph |access-date=10 January 2024 |archive-date=10 January 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240110200949/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/politics/2024/01/09/ed-davey-paula-vennells-post-office-horizon-it-scandal/ |url-status=live }}</ref> However, Davey said he was "completely surprised" as to why the Conservatives had awarded Vennells a CBE in 2019.<ref name="auto"/>