I was born in 1963 into a strong and close working class Labour family, headed by my mother, Teresa Davies, and father, Gethin Davies. From a young age, I have always considered myself politically active, so it comes as no surprise that some of my earliest (and fondest) memories are of campaigning in General Elections for my uncle, Ifor Davies, who was a highly-respected MP for Gower and deputy to Cledwyn Hughes at the Welsh Office in Harold Wilson's Government.

Joanna, my wife, and I met in a sports centre. I was working there, and she was doing aerobics. Joanna was born into the Irranca family, a family of Italian stock who came to Wales in the 1950s and worked hard to make a successful living in the valleys of South Wales. I started out as just a plain, old Davies, but when Joanna and I married, we merged our names together.

I thought I had left higher education when I began to work for local authorities in leisure management and, later, onto private sector management. But I couldn’t stay away from the classroom, and with time, I returned to education as a lecturer at Swansea Institute of Higher Education.

After the death of the veteran MP and Government Whip Sir Ray Powell, I was elected to the parliamentary seat of Ogmore in the South Wales Valleys (a Labour seat since 1918) in the by-election of February 14th 2002. Curiously, like the late Sir Powell, I was also appointed as the Government Whip for Wales.

I was honoured to be re-elected to serve Ogmore in the general elections of May 2005 and May 2010. Since my election in 2002, I have been working hard at Westminster on a range of issues that affect both my home of Wales and the UK in general – from promoting and encouraging modernisation of rail lines into Wales to protecting and preserving the UK’s biodiversity as a minister for Defra. I have sat on the Procedures Select Committee to discuss ways of modernising the work of Parliament and have also sat on Standing Committees for the Police Reform Bill, Fireworks Bill and Communications Bill, amongst others.

During my time at the House of Commons thus far, I have made the most of opportunities to speak in the Chamber, enabling me to bring attention to many pressing issues. These have included topics as varied as international trade union rights, compulsory voting, anti-social behaviour, renewable energy, fair trade, and social justice.

Whilst I do indeed make the most of my time at Westminster, I return to Ogmore as often as possible, at least every weekend. Once back, I divide my time between my constituents, and my wife and three sons. I also am a fan of most sport, especially rugby, and I really enjoy watching my sons’ rugby matches when I am back home. With these demands on my weekends, I like to joke that my time at home can be busier than my time at Westminster.

I am currently the Shadow Minister for the Marine and Natural Environment. In this capacity, I am able to fight for a better future for both the UK and global environment, and for future generations.