Martyn David Jones (born 1 March 1947) is a former British Labour Party politician who was the Member of Parliament (MP) for Clwyd South from 1987 until his retirement at the 2010 general election.
Martyn Jones | |
|---|---|
| Chair of the Welsh Affairs Committee | |
| In office 14 July 1997 – 13 July 2005 | |
| Preceded by | Gareth Wardell |
| Succeeded by | Hywel Francis |
| Member of Parliament for Clwyd South Clwyd South West (1987–1997) | |
| In office 12 June 1987 – 12 April 2010 | |
| Preceded by | Robert Harvey |
| Succeeded by | Susan Elan Jones |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 1 March 1947 Wrexham, Denbighshire, Wales |
| Nationality | British |
| Political party | Labour |
Early life
editBorn in Wrexham, he attended Grove Park Grammar School (now Rhosnesni High School) on Penymaes Avenue in Wrexham. He went to Liverpool College of Commerce, then completed a BSc in Microbiology at Liverpool Polytechnic, then an MSc at Trent Polytechnic.[1]
He is a microbiologist, and worked at the Wrexham Lager Beer Company from 1969 until June 1987 before his election to the House of Commons.[1]
Parliamentary career
editAt the 1987 general election, he was elected as member of Parliament for Clwyd South West, narrowly beating the Conservative incumbent Robert Harvey. He was re-elected at the 1992 general election with an increased majority. His constituency was abolished for the 1997 election, but he was returned to Parliament for the new Clwyd South constituency where his opponent was future Prime Minister Boris Johnson.[2]
Jones was an opposition whip from 1988 to 1992, and under John Smith's leadership of the Labour Party, he was an opposition spokesperson for Food, Agricultural and Rural Affairs from 1994 to 1995.[2] He has been a member of the Welsh Affairs Select committee since 1997,[2] serving as the committee's chair until 2005. He was previously a member of the Agriculture Select Committee.[1]
Jones has been vocal in his criticism of controversial North Wales Police Chief Constable Richard Brunstrom's decision to use images of a dead motorcyclist as part of the force's contentiously zealous campaign for road safety.[3]
In 2006 the Mail on Sunday newspaper reported that Jones had repeatedly swore at a House of Commons Security Officer.[4] Jones denied the Mail's allegations. He took the paper to the High Court to sue them for inaccuracies in the story. He called the article a "grotesque distortion" and was eventually awarded £5,000 in compensation. The paper also had to pay £300,000 in legal costs.[5]
Jones has been a vocal campaigner on the issue of dormant bank accounts in the UK. The MP has campaigned since 2001 for the issue to be brought to the forefront of British political life. His work on the subject was praised by senior ministers, such as the Labour Chancellor of the Exchequer Alistair Darling.[6]
On 7 May 2009, Jones announced that he would retire at the next general election.[1]
References
edit- ^ a b c d "MP to revive lager on retirement". BBC News. 7 May 2009. Retrieved 10 May 2009.
- ^ a b c Waller, Robert; Criddle, Byron (7 May 2007). The Almanac of British Politics. Routledge. pp. 305–6. ISBN 978-1-135-20676-5.
- ^ "Father wants chief to 'be sacked'". BBC News. 28 April 2007. Retrieved 21 October 2009.
- ^ "Guard tells jury MP swore at him". BBC News. 12 June 2007. Retrieved 21 October 2009.
- ^ "MP libel victory over 'swearing'". BBC News. 14 June 2007. Retrieved 21 October 2009.
- ^ "Martyn Jones launches another push on dormant accounts". MartynJonesMP.co.uk. 15 November 2007. Archived from the original on 17 May 2008. Retrieved 21 October 2009.