Emily Jane Gasson, widely known as Emily Davey after her marriage to Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey, is much more than the wife of a politician. She is a lawyer, councillor, mother, carer, and advocate, who has built a life at the intersection of law, politics, and lived experience. Her journey reflects a deep commitment to fairness, housing rights, disability advocacy, and resilience in the face of personal challenges.
While her husband commands attention on the national political stage, Emily has carved out her own path—quietly powerful yet deeply impactful. From her work as a housing lawyer to her role as a local councillor in Kingston upon Thames, she has consistently focused on the most vulnerable in society. At the same time, her family life—marked by caring for a disabled child and managing her own health condition—has shaped her into an authentic and empathetic voice for carers across the UK.
Early Life and Family
Emily Jane Gasson was born in 1970 into a family that placed great emphasis on learning, public service, and social responsibility. Though she has lived most of her life away from the glare of publicity, occasional references by her brother, journalist Christopher Gasson, provide glimpses into her upbringing. From a young age, Emily demonstrated a sharp intellect and a strong moral compass—qualities that would later guide her career in law and politics.
Her early years also cultivated a passion for community service. This foundation laid the groundwork for her lifelong commitment to social justice issues, particularly housing, disability rights, and caregiving.
Marriage to Ed Davey
Emily met Ed Davey in the early 2000s while working together on housing policy for the Liberal Democrats. Their shared interest in housing fairness and community well-being quickly turned into a strong personal bond. In 2005, they married—at a time when Ed was an ambitious MP for Kingston and Surbiton, steadily climbing the ranks of his party.
Their marriage has been shaped by shared values, political work, and the demanding responsibilities of family life. Unlike many political couples who prefer to maintain a strict separation between professional and personal lives, Emily and Ed’s relationship has often seen them working in tandem—he on the national stage, and she on the legal and local government side of policy.
Family Life and Children
The Daveys’ family life has been anything but simple. They have two children:
- John, born in 2007, who lives with a complex neurological condition affecting both movement and speech. Caring for him requires constant attention and has made both Emily and Ed full-time carers alongside their careers.
- Ellie, born a few years later, who has grown up in a household where resilience, compassion, and advocacy are everyday realities.
Emily’s role as a mother and carer is central to her identity. She has often spoken about the immense challenges faced by families raising children with disabilities. For her, this is not a policy issue in the abstract—it is lived reality. Her experiences have given her a unique and authentic voice in debates about caregiving, support services, and disability rights.
Living with Multiple Sclerosis
As if caregiving alone were not enough of a challenge, Emily herself lives with multiple sclerosis (MS), a chronic condition that affects the brain and spinal cord. Diagnosed around 2012, her MS symptoms include fatigue, relapses, and mobility issues. The COVID-19 lockdowns worsened her condition, making everyday life more demanding.
In 2022, Emily made the decision to speak publicly about her MS. She explained that she wanted to highlight the often-overlooked reality of carers who also live with disabilities. By sharing her story, she brought honesty and relatability to political debates around health and caregiving, inspiring many who face similar struggles.
Her openness about MS is not about self-pity—it is about raising awareness and giving a voice to thousands of people balancing personal illness with caring responsibilities.
Career in Housing Law
Professionally, Emily Gasson built her career as a housing lawyer. She specialised in social housing, tenants’ rights, accessibility, and local government policy. For Emily, secure housing has always been about more than bricks and mortar—it is about dignity, fairness, and the foundation for opportunity.
She worked with housing associations and local councils, advising on tenancy law and housing policy. Her expertise in these areas earned her credibility not only as a lawyer but later as a politician. She has also contributed to training and consultancy work, and at times volunteered her legal knowledge to support South West London Law Centres.
Political Career
Parliamentary Ambitions
Emily’s political journey began with the Liberal Democrats, the party that has long been associated with community-based politics and social fairness. In the 2005 General Election, she stood as the Liberal Democrat candidate for North Dorset. While she did not win, the campaign marked her entry into national politics.
A decade later, in 2016, she was placed second on the Liberal Democrat list for the London Assembly elections, demonstrating the recognition she had within the party. Although she was not elected, her placement on the list reflected her growing reputation.
Local Councillor for Norbiton Ward
Emily’s greatest political success came at the local level. In 2018, she was elected councillor for Norbiton Ward in Kingston upon Thames, securing more votes than any other candidate. Her popularity was reaffirmed in 2022, when she was re-elected.
As councillor, Emily has made housing issues her top priority. Her legal background has been invaluable in shaping policies around:
- Housing allocation
- Estate renewal
- Disability access
One of her biggest responsibilities has been overseeing the Cambridge Road Estate regeneration, Kingston’s largest redevelopment project. While the project promises thousands of new homes and more council housing, it has also faced criticism over speed, affordability, and resident rehousing. Emily’s role has been to balance the financial realities of redevelopment with the needs and rights of residents, a task that requires diplomacy, negotiation, and persistence.
Championing Carers and Disability Rights
Emily’s lived experiences—as a carer for her son and as someone living with MS—have made her an outspoken advocate for carers and disabled people. She has consistently highlighted the lack of support and recognition given to carers, calling for:
- Better financial support
- Access to respite services
- Greater investment in disability-friendly housing
- Fairer treatment of families in the benefits system
During the 2024 General Election, the Davey family placed caregiving at the heart of the Liberal Democrat campaign. Emily’s willingness to share her story resonated with voters across the country, many of whom felt seen and heard for the first time.
Challenges and Public Scrutiny
Like any public figure, Emily has faced criticism, mostly linked to policy debates rather than personal controversy. Estate regeneration projects, by their very nature, attract passionate opposition, and Emily has had to navigate difficult community discussions around affordability and timelines.
Her family has also been indirectly connected to national political debates, particularly around Ed Davey’s role as a minister during the Post Office Horizon scandal. However, the controversy has focused more on Ed than on Emily herself.
Through it all, Emily has remained steady, approachable, and committed to transparency in public service.
Strength and Impact
What makes Emily Gasson’s story extraordinary is not fame or glamour but resilience. She is a woman who has:
- Built a respected career in law and housing
- Taken on a demanding role as a local councillor
- Served as a full-time carer for her son
- Lived with a chronic illness with honesty and courage
Few people could juggle so many responsibilities at once, yet Emily has done so with determination and grace. She has shown that political impact is not only made in Parliament but also in local communities and personal advocacy.
Final Reflection
Emily Gasson’s life is a reminder that true leadership often comes from lived experience. She embodies the balance of professional expertise, political engagement, family responsibility, and personal resilience.
Her story is not about perfection but about persistence—about facing life’s toughest challenges and turning them into a source of strength for others. As a lawyer, she has fought for fairness; as a councillor, she has shaped housing policy; as a mother and carer, she has given a voice to families often overlooked; and as a woman with MS, she has spoken for those living with invisible struggles.
In short, Emily Gasson’s impact is measured not only in political votes or legal victories but in the countless lives she has touched—through advocacy, empathy, and example.
