Dehenna Davison

{{short description|British Conservative politician (born 1993)}}

{{Infobox officeholder

| honorific-prefix =

| name = Dehenna Davison

| honorific-suffix =

| image = Official portrait of Dehenna Davison MP crop 2.jpg

| caption = Official portrait, 2019

| office1 = Member of Parliament
for Bishop Auckland

| parliament1 =

| majority1 =

| predecessor1 = Helen Goodman

| successor1 = Sam Rushworth

| term_start1 = 12 December 2019

| term_end1 = 30 May 2024

| birth_name = Dehenna Sheridan Davison

| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1993|7|27|df=y}}

| birth_place = Sheffield, South Yorkshire, England

| death_date =

| death_place =

| nationality = British

| party = Conservative

| children =

| spouse = {{marriage|John Fareham|2018|2019|end={{abbr|sep.|separated}}}}

| alma_mater = University of Hull

| residence = Coundon, County Durham, England

| website = {{URL|dehennadavison.com}}

| office = Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Levelling Up

| predecessor = Lia Nici

| successor = Jacob Young

| primeminister = Liz Truss
Rishi Sunak

| termstart = 8 September 2022

| termend = 18 September 2023

| occupation = Politician and former broadcaster

}}

Dehenna Sheridan Davison ({{IPAc-en|d|i|ˈ|ɛ|n|ə}};{{cite web |url=https://parliamentlive.tv/event/index/bfc5da1b-5397-4e49-8dee-7592ef0518b0?in=21:21:08 |title=House of Commons: Tuesday 17 December 2019: Meeting started at 2.23pm, ended 9.37pm |work=Parliament TV|access-date=18 December 2019 |time=21:21:14}} born 27 July 1993) is a British former Conservative Party politician and broadcaster. She served as the Member of Parliament (MP) for Bishop Auckland from 2019 to 2024. She served as Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Levelling Up between September 2022 and September 2023.

Born to a stonemason and nursery nurse in Sheffield, Davison grew up on a council estate, and attended Sheffield High School on a scholarship. She studied British Politics and Legislative Studies at the University of Hull, where she was an NUS delegate, and successfully led a campaign to disaffiliate the university's student union in 2016.

Davison was elected as MP for Bishop Auckland in the 2019 general election. She was the Conservative candidate for Kingston upon Hull North and Sedgefield in the 2015 and 2017 general elections respectively. Davison is the first Conservative to represent the constituency since its creation in 1885. The seat had previously been held by Labour for 84 years. After her election, she was considered a "rising star" in the party, and an example of a Conservative representing a red wall constituency. However, in 2022 she announced that she would not stand for the next general election. She supported Liz Truss in her successful campaign to become Prime Minister in September 2022 and subsequently became Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Levelling Up, a role she retained under Rishi Sunak.

Early life and education

Dehenna Sheridan Davison{{cite news|url=https://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/news/15281193.full-list-general-election-candidates-region/|work=The Northern Echo|date=11 May 2017|accessdate=19 February 2024|title=Full list of General Election candidates in the region}} was born on 27 July 1993{{cite book |last=Brunskill |first=Ian |url=http://worldcat.org/oclc/1129682574 |title=The Times guide to the House of Commons 2019: the definitive record of Britain's historic 2019 General Election |date=19 March 2020 |isbn=978-0-00-839258-1 |pages=107 |publisher=HarperCollins Publishers Limited |oclc=1129682574}}{{cite news |last=Swerling |first=Gabriella |date=13 May 2017 |title=Video game shopworker, 23, aims for Blair's former citadel |work=The Times |url=https://www.thetimes.com/uk/politics/article/video-game-shop-worker-23-aims-to-storm-blair-s-former-citadel-pgwjhvm0k |url-status=live |access-date=13 December 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191213101452/https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/video-game-shop-worker-23-aims-to-storm-blair-s-former-citadel-pgwjhvm0k |archive-date=13 December 2019 |url-access=subscription}} in Sheffield, South Yorkshire, England, where she grew up on a council estate.{{cite news |url=https://www.ft.com/content/a143fdf2-8c21-11e9-a24d-b42f641eca37 |work=Financial Times |last=Payne |first=Sebastian |title=Northern Tories have designs on old Labour heartlands |date=11 June 2019 |access-date=13 December 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191213101447/https://www.ft.com/content/a143fdf2-8c21-11e9-a24d-b42f641eca37 |archive-date=13 December 2019 |url-status=live |url-access=subscription}}{{cite news |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/politics/2019/10/26/tories-hope-win-bishop-auckland/ |work=The Telegraph |date=26 October 2019 |access-date=13 December 2019 |last=Capurro |first=Daniel |title=The young female candidate at the heart of the Tories' battle to win Labour's heartland |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191112140433/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/politics/2019/10/26/tories-hope-win-bishop-auckland/ |archive-date=12 November 2019 |url-status=live |url-access=subscription}} Her father, Dominic, was a stonemason, and her mother, Nicola, was a nursery nurse.{{cite news|url=https://www.thetimes.com/uk/politics/article/tory-mp-dehenna-davison-meet-the-jewel-in-boris-johnsons-blue-wall-npb9ww979|work=The Sunday Times|title=Tory MP Dehenna Davison: meet the jewel in Boris Johnson's blue wall|date=2 May 2021|access-date=18 February 2024|last=Kinchen|first=Rosie}}{{subscription required}} Davison attended Sheffield High School, a private school on a scholarship sponsored by the bank HSBC.{{cite web |url=https://www.sheffieldhighschool.org.uk/news/hsbc-bank-sponsors-more-places-at-sheffield-high-school/ |publisher=Sheffield High School|access-date=13 December 2019 |title=HSBC Bank sponsors more places at Sheffield High School |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191213101456/https://www.sheffieldhighschool.org.uk/news/hsbc-bank-sponsors-more-places-at-sheffield-high-school/ |archive-date=13 December 2019 |url-status=dead}} When she was 13 years old, her father was attacked and killed. His assailant was acquitted of manslaughter but served 18 months in jail for a separate assault charge. Three years later, she represented the family at a criminal injuries compensation tribunal and has commented in interviews that the experience fostered her interest in politics.

Davison studied British Politics and Legislative Studies at the University of Hull. During her time at the university, she spent a year working as a parliamentary aide for Jacob Rees-Mogg, the MP for North East Somerset.{{cite news |url=https://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/news/north-east-news/who-dehenna-davison-everything-you-13150061 |work=Evening Chronicle |date=13 December 2019 |title=Who is Dehenna Davison? The new Conservative MP for Bishop Auckland |last=Kelly |first=Mike |access-date=13 December 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191213060024/https://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/news/north-east-news/who-dehenna-davison-everything-you-13150061 |archive-date=13 December 2019 |url-status=live}}{{cite web |url=https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm/cmsecret/140220/140220.pdf |title=Register of Interests of Members' Secretaries and Research Assistants (As at 20 February 2014) |page=21 |access-date=19 December 2019 |work=UK Parliament |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140325161944/http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm/cmsecret/140220/140220.pdf |archive-date=25 March 2014 |url-status=live}} Davison was also a NUS delegate and played for the university's lacrosse team.{{cite web |url=https://hulluniunion.com/news/article/huu-goes-nationwide-with-nus-conference |title=HUU Goes Nationwide with NUS Conference |website=hulluniunion.com |access-date=21 September 2020 |date=25 February 2014}}{{cite news |url=https://issuu.com/thehullfire/docs/cgw024_010213_issue5 |work=The Hullfire |page=22 |title=York's Women Lacrosse side show class as Hull crash |date=5 March 2013 |access-date=21 September 2020 |last=Shoemark |first=Jack}} She led a successful campaign to disaffiliate the university's student union from the NUS in 2016.{{cite web |url=https://thetab.com/uk/hull/2016/04/26/hull-launches-campaign-disaffiliate-nus-10596 |title=Hull students launch campaign to disaffiliate with the NUS |date=26 April 2016 |last=Fredrickson |first=Connie |work=The Tab}}{{cite news |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/student/news/hull-university-union-becomes-latest-disaffiliate-national-union-students-a7046696.html |work=The Independent |title=Hull University Union becomes latest to disaffiliate from National Union of Students |date=24 May 2016 |access-date=21 September 2020 |last=Ali |first=Aftab}} In the same year, Davison was the Conservative candidate for the Kings Park ward in the Hull City Council election, where she finished last.{{cite web |url=http://www.hullcc.gov.uk/portal/page-_pageid=221,1515093&_dad=portal&_schema=PORTAL# |title=Local election results 2016 |work=Hull City Council |access-date=21 September 2020}} In 2018, she again contested and finished fifth in the Kingswood ward.{{cite web |url=https://cmis.hullcc.gov.uk/cmis/Elections/HistoricElectionsInformation/tabid/249/ctl/ViewCandidates/mid/399/ID/23/Default.aspx |title=Election Ward Candidates Constituency Summary |work=Hull City Council |access-date=24 September 2020}}

In her late teens and early twenties, while she was a student, Davison had a variety of jobs, including working in a video games retailer, a casino, a betting shop, and a branch of Pizza Hut.{{cite web |title=Tories target Blair country |url=https://www.politico.eu/article/tories-target-blair-country/ |work=Politico |access-date=13 December 2019 |date=11 May 2017 |last=McTague |first=Tom |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191213101448/https://www.politico.eu/article/tories-target-blair-country/ |archive-date=13 December 2019 |url-status=live}}{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2019/12/16/world/europe/uk-parliament-conservatives-majority.html |work=The New York Times |date=16 December 2019 |access-date=3 January 2020 |title=Welcome to Parliament. Now Sit Down and Shut Up. |last=Castle |first=Stephen |url-access=subscription}} Prior to becoming an MP, Davison was a research and development analyst for LUMO, a company that advises businesses on tax credits.{{cite web |url=https://www.politicshome.com/news/uk/political-parties/conservative-party/house/house-magazine/108577/class-2019-meet-new-mps |work=Politics Home|last=Bond |first=Daniel |date=16 December 2019 |access-date=16 December 2019 |title=Class of 2019: Meet the new MPs |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191217174745/https://www.politicshome.com/news/uk/political-parties/conservative-party/house/house-magazine/108577/class-2019-meet-new-mps |archive-date=17 December 2019 |url-status=live}}

Parliamentary career

Davison was selected as the Conservative candidate for the Kingston upon Hull North constituency at the 2015 general election. She finished third behind the Labour Party and UK Independence Party candidates.{{cite web |url=https://ukpollingreport.co.uk/2015guide/hullnorth/ |title=Kingston upon Hull North |work=UK Polling Report |access-date=13 December 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191213101458/https://ukpollingreport.co.uk/2015guide/hullnorth/ |archive-date=13 December 2019 |url-status=live}} Davison supported Brexit in the 2016 United Kingdom European Union membership referendum and is a classical liberal. She next contested Sedgefield at the 2017 general election, where she finished second behind the Labour candidate.{{cite news |url=https://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/news/local-news/sedgefield-constituency-general-election-results-9056341 |work=Evening Chronicle |date=9 June 2017 |access-date=13 December 2019 |title=Sedgefield constituency General Election results 2017: Full standings, MP and reaction |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191213101453/https://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/news/local-news/sedgefield-constituency-general-election-results-9056341 |archive-date=13 December 2019 |url-status=live}} In the 2019 Conservative Party leadership election, she supported Jeremy Hunt.{{cite tweet |user=DehennaDavison |last=Davison |first=Dehenna |date=4 July 2019 |access-date=12 July 2022 |title=Here at the Yorkshire and Humber hustings and have been selected to ask a question – keep an eye out. Guess what it's about in the comments below! Looking forward to hearing from both candidates, but will be there supporting @Jeremy_Hunt |number=1146841961829142529}}

She was elected as MP for Bishop Auckland at the 2019 general election, with a majority of 7,962 (17.8%) on a swing of 9.5% from Labour to the Conservatives.{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/politics/constituencies/E14000569 |title=Bishop Auckland parliamentary constituency |work=BBC News |access-date=13 December 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191213175120/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/politics/constituencies/E14000569 |archive-date=13 December 2019 |url-status=live}} Davison was the first Conservative MP for the constituency since its creation in 1885. The seat had been represented by a Labour MP since 1935.{{cite news |title=Bishop Auckland elects Dehenna Davison as first Conservative MP |work=The Northern Echo |date=13 December 2019 |url=https://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/news/18099585.bishop-auckland-elects-first-conservative-mp-majority-almost-8-000/ |access-date=13 December 2019 |last=Conner-Hill |first=Rachel |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191213080205/https://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/news/18099585.bishop-auckland-elects-first-conservative-mp-majority-almost-8-000/ |archive-date=13 December 2019 |url-status=live}}{{cite news |url=https://www.itv.com/news/2019-12-13/johnson-heads-for-landslide-as-labours-red-wall-crumbles/ |work=ITV News |title=Johnson heads for landslide as Labour's 'red wall' crumbles |date=13 December 2019 |access-date=13 December 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191213060824/https://www.itv.com/news/2019-12-13/johnson-heads-for-landslide-as-labours-red-wall-crumbles/ |archive-date=13 December 2019 |url-status=live}} Her campaign focused on promises on Brexit, and reopening Bishop Auckland Hospital's emergency department, which had been closed in 2009.{{cite news |url=https://www.thetimes.com/article/election-winners-and-losers-from-the-counts-as-results-come-in-tzhszqjk6 |work=The Times |title=Election winners and losers, from Jo Swinson to Dominic Raab |access-date=13 December 2019 |date=13 December 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191213142443/https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/election-winners-and-losers-from-the-counts-as-results-come-in-tzhszqjk6 |archive-date=13 December 2019 |url-status=live |url-access=subscription}}{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/election-2019-50646325 |title=General election 2019: Could Bishop Auckland Hospital's A&E reopen? |work=BBC News |date=7 December 2019 |access-date=13 December 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191213160913/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/election-2019-50646325 |archive-date=13 December 2019 |url-status=live}} Since her election, she was considered a "rising star" in the party and a prominent Conservative representing a red wall constituency.{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2022/nov/25/tory-mps-gary-streeter-and-dehenna-davison-wont-stand-at-next-election |work=The Guardian |title='Red wall' MP Dehenna Davison joins list of Tories standing down at next election |date=25 November 2022 |access-date=27 November 2022 |last=Adu |first=Aletha}}{{cite news |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/politics/2022/11/25/dehenna-davison-latest-mp-announce-will-stand/ |work=The Telegraph |date=25 November 2022 |access-date=27 November 2022 |title=Tory rising star Dehenna Davison announces she will stand down at next election |last=Martin |first=Daniel |url-access=subscription}} She made her maiden speech on 16 January 2020.{{cite news |url=https://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/news/18166458.bishop-auckland-mp-dehenna-davison-makes-maiden-commons-speech/ |work=The Northern Echo |date=16 January 2020 |access-date=28 January 2020 |last=White |first=Andrew |title=Bishop Auckland MP Dehenna Davison makes maiden Commons speech}} In that month, she voiced her support for scrapping the planned high-speed railway project HS2, and re-investing the money into local transport schemes.{{cite news |url=https://www.politicshome.com/news/uk/transport/rail-transport/news/109366/blue-wall-tory-mps-pile-pressure-boris-johnson-scrap |title='Blue Wall' Tory MPs pile pressure on Boris Johnson to scrap HS2 after damning reports |work=Politics Home|date=25 January 2020 |access-date=28 January 2020 |last=Jeffery |first=Max}}

On 14 February 2020, it was reported that Davison had been photographed with two far-right activists at a party to celebrate Brexit on 31 January in her constituency. In response, Davison distanced herself from the views of the two men, stating, "These photos were taken at an event open to the public and I in no way whatsoever condone the views highlighted of the individuals concerned."{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2020/feb/14/dehenna-davison-new-tory-mp-pictured-with-alleged-far-right-activists |work=The Guardian |title=New Tory MP pictured with alleged far-right activists |date=14 February 2020 |last=Parveen |first=Nazia |access-date=20 February 2020}}{{cite news |url=https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/entry/brexit-party-dehenna-davison-pictured-andrew-foste_uk_5e413c37c5b6f1f57f154f67 |title=Exclusive: Tory MP Pictured With Far-Right Activist Faces Calls For Investigation |last=Wearmouth |first=Rachel |date=14 February 2020 |access-date=20 February 2020 |work=HuffPost UK}}{{cite news |last=Priestley |first=Catherine |title=MP pictured with alleged far-right figures 'in no way condones' their views |url=https://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/news/18237366.mp-pictured-alleged-far-right-figures-in-no-way-condones-views/ |access-date=29 June 2020 |work=The Northern Echo}}

Davison was a member of the Home Affairs Select Committee from March 2020 to November 2021.{{cite web |url=https://members.parliament.uk/member/4737/career|title=Parliamentary career|publisher=parliament.uk|accessdate=1 November 2022}} She is also a member of the European Research Group,{{cite news|url=https://www.thetimes.com/uk/politics/article/new-mps-flock-to-join-tory-eurosceptic-group-wm05fgh2g|work=The Times|title=ERG: New MPs flock to join Tory Eurosceptic group|last=Devlin|first=Kate|date=18 December 2019|access-date=24 June 2020}} {{subscription required}} on the steering committee of the China Research Group,{{cite news|url=https://www.ft.com/content/b354c58b-06fc-4848-a823-584bcc0c3869|work=Financial Times|title=Senior Tories launch ERG-style group to shape policy on China|date=25 April 2020|access-date=24 June 2020|last=Payne|first=Sebastian}} on the board of the Blue Collar Conservatives,{{cite web|url=https://www.northernpolicy.org/dehenna-davison|title=Dehenna Davison MP|publisher=The Northern Policy Foundation|access-date=22 September 2020}} and a member of the parliamentary council of the centre-right think tank The Northern Policy Foundation.{{cite news|url=https://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/news/18538880.conservative-think-tank-set-bid-boost-north/|title=Conservative think tank set up in bid to boost the North|work=The Telegraph and Argus|date=25 June 2020|access-date=22 September 2020|last=Black|first=Michael}}

In September 2020, Davison was criticised by her own party after she mocked then Scottish Labour leader Richard Leonard for having an English accent and suggested that this was the reason for Labour's decline in support in Scotland. A spokesman for the Scottish Conservatives said that: "This criticism is unacceptable. It plays into the kind of divisive politics that the SNP promote."{{cite news|last1=Andrews |first1=Kieran|title=Tory MP Dehenna Davison's 'accent' jibe at Labour leader Richard Leonard angers her own party|url=https://www.thetimes.com/uk/politics/article/tory-mp-dehenna-davisons-accent-jibe-at-labour-leader-richard-leonard-angers-her-own-party-6v8s3tk58 |access-date=7 September 2020 |work=The Times |date=6 September 2020}} {{subscription required}}{{cite news |last1=Paterson |first1=Laura |last2=Gildea |first2=Samantha |title=Backlash after Tory MP's 'ill judged' tweet about party leader's Yorkshire accent |url=https://www.examinerlive.co.uk/news/uk-world-news/backlash-after-tory-mps-ill-18890098 |access-date=7 September 2020 |work=Yorkshire Live |date=7 September 2020}}

In February 2021, Davison created the All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) for One-Punch Assaults and served as its chair till September 2022. Her father died of a one-punch assault when she was 13 years old.{{cite news|url=https://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/news/19118855.dehenna-davison-sets-parliamentary-group-one-punch-assault-victims/|work=The Northern Echo|title=Dehenna Davison launches group for one punch assault victims|last=Bellis|first=Richard|date=25 February 2021|accessdate=11 July 2022}}{{cite news|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/crime/dehenna-davison-one-punch-killing-awareness-b2416010.html|work=The Independent|title=Dehenna Davison: MP whose father was killed by one punch opens up about trauma 15 years on|date=22 September 2023|accessdate=18 February 2024|last=Evans|first=Holly}}

She launched the Free Market Forum, a group of Conservative MPs advocating classical liberalism that is affiliated with the Institute of Economic Affairs think tank with Greg Smith in April 2021.{{cite news|url=https://www.thetimes.com/article/time-for-the-treasury-to-rediscover-the-free-market-xvfssgpwh|work=The Times|title=Time for the Treasury to rediscover the free market|last1=Davison|first1=Dehenna|last2=Smith|first2=Greg|date=21 April 2021|access-date=22 April 2021}}{{subscription required}}{{cite web|url=https://www.gregsmith.co.uk/news/greg-co-chair-major-new-initiative-promoting-free-markets-and-free-society|title=Greg is co-chair of major new initiative promoting free markets and a free society|date=21 April 2021|accessdate=22 April 2021|publisher=Greg Smith}}

File:22 06 23, London, United Kingdom. Dehenna Davison, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State at the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, pictured at the Ukraine Recovery Conference 2023 (52992558727).jpg, 2023]]

Davison was a co-host of The Political Correction on GB News on Sunday mornings between June 2021 and September 2022.{{cite news|title=Bishop Auckland MP launches 'The Political Correction' on GB News|url=https://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/news/19385874.bishop-auckland-mp-launches-the-political-correction-gb-news/|access-date=20 June 2021|work=The Northern Echo}}

Davison abstained on the vote for the Health and Social Care Levy in September 2021. The levy increased National Insurance Contributions paid by employees and employers by 1.25% between April 2022 and 2023 before becoming a separate tax from then on.{{cite news|url=https://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/news/19569685.bishop-auckland-mp-abstains-health-social-care-levy-vote/|work=The Northern Echo|date=9 September 2021|last=Engelbrecht|first=Gavin|title=Bishop Auckland MP abstains on health and social care levy vote}}{{cite web|url=https://www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/explainers/health-social-care-levy|publisher=Institute for Government|date=6 April 2022|title=Health and social care levy}} She was also one of 99 Conservative MPs to vote against the introduction of Covid passes in England in December 2021.{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-59659851|publisher=BBC News|title=MPs back Covid passes in England despite huge Tory rebellion|date=15 December 2021}}{{cite web|url=https://www.itv.com/news/tyne-tees/2021-12-14/the-north-east-mps-voting-against-boris-johnsons-covid-plans|publisher=ITV News|title=The North East MPs against Boris Johnson's Covid plans|date=14 December 2021}} In early 2022, she voiced her support for the reform of the Gender Recognition Act 2004 to include self-identification, and a conversion therapy ban to include transgender people.{{cite news|url=https://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/news/20144475.bishop-auckland-redcar-tory-mps-speak-lgbt-conversion-therapy/|work=The Northern Echo|title=Bishop Auckland and Redcar Tory MPs speak out on LGBT conversion therapy|last=Conner-Hill|first=Rachel|date=17 May 2022}}{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-60947028|publisher=BBC News|date=1 April 2022|title=Conversion therapy: Ban to go ahead but not cover trans people}}

Davison was one of 148 MPs to vote against Prime Minister Boris Johnson in the 2022 Conservative Party vote of confidence in his leadership on 6 June.{{cite news|url=https://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/news/20190900.bishop-auckland-mp-reveals-voted-boris-johnson/|work=The Northern Echo|title=Bishop Auckland MP reveals she voted against Boris Johnson|last=Havery|first=Gavin|date=6 June 2022}} Johnson survived the vote of confidence but resigned on 7 July 2022 following the Chris Pincher scandal and the subsequent government crisis.{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/live/2022/jun/06/boris-johnson-confidence-vote-graham-brady-tory-mps-live|work=The Guardian|title=Boris Johnson no-confidence vote: prime minister wins by 211 to 148 but 40% of Tory MPs fail to back him – as it happened|date=6 June 2022|last1=Sparrow|first1=Andrew|last2=Slawson|first2=Nicola|accessdate=7 June 2022}}{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2022/07/06/boris-johnson-sunak-javid-pincher-resign/|newspaper=Washington Post|title=Why Boris Johnson is resigning and how we got to this point|date=7 July 2022|last1=Timsit|first1=Annabelle|last2=Adam|first2=Karla|last3=Booth|first3=William|last4=Suliman|first4=Adela|accessdate=11 July 2022}} She endorsed Liz Truss in the July–September 2022 Conservative Party leadership election.{{cite news|url=https://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/news/20265848.dehenna-davison-backs-liz-truss-question-time-appearance/|title=Dehenna Davison backs Liz Truss in Question Time appearance|work=The Northern Echo|date=8 July 2022|accessdate=11 July 2022|last=Hordon|first=Daniel}}

Truss became Prime Minister on 6 September 2022 and Davison was appointed as Parliamentary Under Secretary of State at the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities two days later. Rishi Sunak succeeded Truss as a result of the October 2022 Conservative Party leadership election and Davison retained her role.{{cite web|url=https://www.gov.uk/government/news/ministerial-appointments-september-2022|title=Ministerial Appointments: September 2022|date=8 September 2022|accessdate=16 September 2022|publisher=gov.uk}}{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-63375281|title=Rishi Sunak calls for stability and unity as he wins contest to be PM|date=25 October 2022|accessdate=1 November 2022|publisher=BBC News}}

On 25 November 2022, Davison announced that she would not seek re-election as an MP at the next general election citing the need to have a "life outside of politics" and support her family.{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-tees-63759992/|title=Dehenna Davison to stand down as Bishop Auckland MP at election|work=BBC News|date=25 November 2022|accessdate=25 November 2022}} On 18 September 2023, she resigned as Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Levelling Up due to chronic migraine.{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-66844580|title=Chronic migraines have forced me to quit, says Dehenna Davison|work=BBC News|date=18 September 2023|accessdate=18 September 2023}}{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2023/sep/18/dehenna-davison-resigns-as-uk-minister-citing-struggle-with-chronic-migraine|work=The Guardian|date=18 September 2023|accessdate=20 September 2023|title=Dehenna Davison resigns as minister, citing struggle with chronic migraine|last=Adu|first=Aletha}} In March 2024, she obtained the first parliamentary debate about migraines since the 1960s and called her experiences with migraines as "life-ruining". She and representatives of the National Migraine Centre and the Migraine Trust requested the government meet with them to improve migraine treatment and said many people with chronic migraines are experiencing "excruciating pain".{{Cite web |date=2024-03-21 |title=MP Dehenna Davison highlights 'life-ruining' impact of migraines |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cw0z72kl7jeo |access-date=2024-03-25 |website=BBC News}}

Personal life

Davison married Hull City councillor John Fareham, who is 35 years her senior, in 2018 (when Fareham was 59 and Davison was 24).{{cite news |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/women/politics/meet-millennial-mp-dehenna-davison-boris-baby-just-survived/ |work=The Telegraph |date=21 December 2019 |title=Meet millennial MP Dehenna Davison – the 'Boris baby' who's just survived her first week in Westminster |last=McGoogan |first=Cara |access-date=2 January 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191227235012/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/women/politics/meet-millennial-mp-dehenna-davison-boris-baby-just-survived/ |archive-date=27 December 2019 |url-status=live |url-access=subscription}}{{cite news |url=https://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/news/15289597.tory-election-runner-dehenna-davison-23-and-cabinet-minister-karen-bradley-mp-call-for-backing-as-they-lose-bets-at-sedgefield-r/ |newspaper=The Northern Echo |date=16 May 2017 |access-date=13 December 2019 |title=Tory election runner Dehenna Davison, 23, and cabinet minister Karen Bradley MP call for backing as they lose bets at Sedgefield R |last=Mainwaring-Taylor |first=Flossie |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191213101452/https://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/news/15289597.tory-election-runner-dehenna-davison-23-and-cabinet-minister-karen-bradley-mp-call-for-backing-as-they-lose-bets-at-sedgefield-r/ |archive-date=13 December 2019 |url-status=live }}{{cite news|url=https://www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/news/politics/dehenna-davison-i-thought-churchill-was-labour-pm-and-my-parents-never-voted-so-studying-politics-was-one-best-decisions-i-ever-made-3063068|title=Dehenna Davison: 'I thought Churchill was a Labour PM and my parents never voted, so studying politics was one of the best decisions I ever made|date=12 December 2020|accessdate=18 June 2021|last=Scott|first=Geraldine|work=Yorkshire Post}} The couple appeared together on the Channel 4 documentary series Bride and Prejudice, which showed their wedding at the Guildhall, Kingston upon Hull.{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2018/jun/05/bride-and-prejudice-review-guaranteed-to-expose-your-inner-bigot |newspaper=The Guardian |date=5 June 2018 |access-date=13 December 2019 |last=Wollaston |first=Sam |title=Bride and Prejudice review: guaranteed to expose your inner bigot |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191213101453/https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2018/jun/05/bride-and-prejudice-review-guaranteed-to-expose-your-inner-bigot |archive-date=13 December 2019 |url-status=live }}{{cite news |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/tv/bride-and-prejudice-tv-review-channel-4-couples-weddings-ackley-bridge-a8377246.html |newspaper=The Independent |title=Bride and Prejudice, Channel 4, TV review: Does true love really conquer all? |last=O'Grady |first=Sean |date=6 June 2018 |access-date=13 December 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191213183849/https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/tv/bride-and-prejudice-tv-review-channel-4-couples-weddings-ackley-bridge-a8377246.html |archive-date=13 December 2019 |url-status=live }}{{cite web |url=https://www.channel4.com/programmes/bride-prejudice/on-demand/66552-001 |publisher=Channel 4 |title=Bride & Prejudice |access-date=13 December 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191213105204/https://www.channel4.com/programmes/bride-prejudice/on-demand/66552-001 |archive-date=13 December 2019 |url-status=live }} They separated before the 2019 general election.{{cite news |last1=Tucker |first1=Grant |last2=Urwin |first2=Rosamund |title=Meet Boris's Babies — they're young, fun and working class |url=https://www.thetimes.com/edition/news/meet-boriss-babies-theyre-young-fun-and-working-class-qr59rrhrp |access-date=15 December 2019 |work=The Times |date=15 December 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191215050328/https://www.thetimes.co.uk/edition/news/meet-boriss-babies-theyre-young-fun-and-working-class-qr59rrhrp |archive-date=15 December 2019 |url-status=live |url-access=subscription}}

Davison came out as bisexual in 2021, and was the first openly bisexual female Conservative MP.{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2021/oct/11/tory-mp-dehenna-davison-overwhelmed-with-support-after-saying-she-is-bisexual|work=The Guardian|title=Tory MP Dehenna Davison 'overwhelmed' with support after saying she is bisexual|date=11 October 2021|accessdate=22 October 2021|last=Walker|first=Peter}}{{cite news|url=https://www.newstatesman.com/encounter/2021/10/dehenna-davison-if-you-go-to-conference-you-see-just-how-gay-the-conservative-party-is|work=New Statesman|title=Dehenna Davison: 'If you go to conference you see just how gay the Conservative Party is' The 28-year-old Tory MP for Bishop Auckland discusses the Red Wall and bisexuality.|last=Cunliffe|first=Rachel|date=27 October 2021}}{{subscription required}}

Since 2022, she has been in a relationship with diplomat Tony Kay, the head of the Arabian Peninsula department at the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office.{{cite news |url=https://www.thetimes.com/uk/politics/article/is-tiktok-mp-dehenna-davison-the-future-of-the-tory-party-pj9chtgq2 |work=The Times |title=Is 'TikTok MP' Dehenna Davison the future of the Tory party? |last=Turner |first=Janice |date=14 February 2022 |url-access=subscription}}{{cite news|url=https://inews.co.uk/news/politics/tories-mass-exodus-dehenna-davison-1995533|work=i|title=Tories fear mass exodus of MPs as Dehenna Davison becomes latest young star to quit|date=25 November 2022|accessdate=6 April 2023|last1=Gye|first1=Hugo|last2=Vaughan|first2=Richard}}{{cite web|url=https://www.politico.eu/article/britain-united-kingdom-political-power-couples-2023-ranking/|title=Britain's political power couples — 2023 ranking|date=14 February 2023|accessdate=20 September 2023|publisher=Politico|last=Dickson|first=Annabelle}} Kay became the deputy British Ambassador to Brazil in the summer of 2024 and Davison had spoken about joining him there when her term as MP ended.{{cite web|url=https://www.chi.ac.uk/event/diplomacy-tony-kay/|publisher=University of Chichester|title=Diplomacy – Tony Kay|accessdate=19 February 2024}}{{cite web|url=https://play.acast.com/s/timesredbox/the-exit-interviews-dehenna-davison|date=19 February 2024|accessdate=19 February 2024|time=41:06|work=Politics Without The Boring Bits|title=The Exit Interviews: Dehenna Davison}}

Davison lives in the village of Coundon, County Durham.{{cite web|url=https://www.dehennadavison.com/about-dehenna|title=About Dehenna|publisher=Bishop Auckland Conservative Association|accessdate=13 March 2021}}

As part of Mental Health Awareness Week 2019, Davison discussed her personal experience of depression and suicidal ideation while working in London as a parliamentary aide, after her grandmother had been diagnosed with, and subsequently died of lung cancer. She has also been open about her past use of antidepressants.{{cite web|url=https://herhouseuk.com/2019/05/18/one-hour-at-a-time-mental-health-awareness-week/|publisher=Her House UK|title=One Hour At A Time|date=18 May 2019|access-date=15 September 2020|archive-date=15 September 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200915163502/https://herhouseuk.com/2019/05/18/one-hour-at-a-time-mental-health-awareness-week/|url-status=dead}}{{cite AV media|title=Dehenna Davison speaks to Gloria de Piero for The Real Me|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KZbLjqrWK6s|publisher=GB News|date=11 October 2021|time=06:08|accessdate=18 December 2021}}

Awards

In November 2023, Davison was named to the BBC's 100 Women list, which features 100 inspiring and influential women from around the world.{{Cite web |date=November 23, 2023 |title=BBC 100 Women 2023: Who is on the list this year? |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/resources/idt-02d9060e-15dc-426c-bfe0-86a6437e5234 |access-date=2023-11-24 |website=BBC News |language=en-GB}}