David Matthews (British politician)

Matthews was elected as a Coalition Liberal Member of Parliament (MP) for Swansea East (UK Parliament constituency) at a by-election in 1919 following the death of the Liberal MP Thomas Jeremiah Williams. He stepped down from Parliament at the 1922 general election, and did not stand again.

Matthews was a strong supporter of the premiership of David Lloyd George [1] and regarded himself as something of a Welsh nationalist. In 1920 he was one of a group of Welsh MPs who called on the prime minister to create the post of Secretary of State for Wales but Lloyd George apparently urged them to fight for greater devolution instead. However, in February 1921 Matthews attempted to introduce a Bill to institute the post of Welsh Secretary but without success.[2]

At the time of his election to Parliament, Matthews was a leading member of the civic community in Swansea. He was a member of Swansea Council and was a Justice of the Peace, having twice been Chief Magistrate. He was a prominent nonconformist in the area and popular with chapel-goers.[3] In 1924 the Freedom of Swansea was bestowed on him, by which time he was an Alderman of Swansea Council.[4]

In business, Matthews was a merchant, a director of the South Wales Fuel Company Ltd. and owner of the Park Tinplate Company Ltd.[5]

• Craig, F. W. S. (1983) [1969]. British parliamentary election results 1918-1949 (3rd ed.). Chichester: Parliamentary Research Services. ISBN 0-900178-06-X.
• Leigh Rayment's Historical List of MPs

• Hansard 1803–2005: contributions in Parliament by David Matthews