Beddoe Rees

Rees built up extensive business interests becoming the chairman of a number of companies, mostly in the coal mining and related industries.

[8] Parker was one of a handful of Labour Party MPs to support the Coalition in the election and in some reports was described as a Liberal, although it is not completely clear if he received the government Coupon.

[11] His wealth, his position in industry, his fierce anti-socialism, all commended him to Conservatives as his nonconformity, his interest in Welsh national movements[2] and his support for free trade made him attractive to Liberals.

The sitting Liberal MP for Bristol South, Sir William Howell Davies, who had represented the constituency since 1906, was retiring and Rees was selected to replace him.

In the speech Rees opposed the Bill designed to establish a minimum wage for coal miners, arguing that its real outcome would be to create a great combine of mineworkers with an organisation capable of holding the country to ransom.

He voted in Parliament for the Safeguarding of Industries Act and was in favour of some measure of protection for home markets, an attitude typical of the Bristol merchant class.

[14] In Bristol South, Rees again had the full support of the local Conservative Association[15] as well as the Liberals in his fight against the Labour candidate D J Vaughan on an avowedly anti-socialist ticket.

However, according to the historian Michael Bentley, by 1924 Rees was part of 'a small group of Liberal Imperialists' numbering about 12 MPs who were presumably beginning to be wary of some of Lloyd George's policy positions and his place on the political spectrum in relation to the emerging force of the Labour Party.

[19] Nevertheless, Rees' association with the Conservatives brought him into conflict with his own party over the issue of support for the formation of a Labour government after the 1923 election.

[25] Rees against faced his usual Labour opponent D J Vaughan and the continuing local "pact" with the Unionists meant another straight fight.

[29] Vaughan had finally abandoned Bristol South and had accepted the offer to stand in the Labour seat of Forest of Dean where he was also elected.

However, in March 1931 his debts were discharged, despite the objection of the Official Receiver that he had engaged in rash and hazardous speculation and unjustifiable extravagance in living.

The Registrar of the Bankruptcy Court accepted that the depression in the Welsh coal industry had been out of Rees' control and that the state of the stock market meant other share dealings financed on borrowed monies provided no income in dividend.