Graham Jones (politician)

Graham Peter Jones^[2] (born 3 March 1966) is a British Labour Party politician and the current Member of Parliament (MP) for Hyndburn.^[3]

Early life and education

Jones was brought up in Baxenden attending St John's CofE Primary School, Baxenden and St Christopher's CofE High School, Accrington. He attended Accrington & Rossendale College studying 'A' Levels. After 3 years at college Jones was employed for Blackburn with Darwen Council on refuse collection and by Lancashire County Council as a carer home assistant.

Jones attended the University of Central Lancashire to study a BA (Hons) in Applied Social Studies. in 1989 he studied Graphic Design and completed the City and Guilds qualification in Desktop Publishing followed by employment at Hollands Pies. Jones had periods of temporary and part-time work followed for Lancashire County Council as a community transport driver before working in print prepress doing agency work, then employed at MEN media in Manchester. Jones also taught prepress at evening classes at Preston College, later at Accrington & Rossendale College. In 2001 Jones worked at Daltons Printers on Oxford Street Accrington until the day after the 2010 General Election.

A relative of the former Labour Mayor, Kathleen Thom who represented Clayton Ward in the 80's and 90's and nephew by marriage to Len Dickenson, a former Mayor who represented Church Ward for the Labour Party in the 80's and 90's. Jones' father's family originate from the Mill Hill area of Blackburn and his mother's family from Accrington. His grandfather worked at Howard and Bulloughs Cotton Mill where he worked alongside Hyndburn Accrington Pals historian Walter Holmes. “I was on the next bench to Jones’ grandfather, and we worked as pattern makers."^[4] His great grandfather lived on Grange Street working as a livery driver at Accrington Railway Station. He had served in the Royal Ambulance Medical Corps during the World War 1 (Pvt Edwin Taylor RAMC 100489, 38 Grange Street). Jones' grandmother was a milliner who owned a hat shop, 'La Mode' in the 60's and 70's on Abbey Street in Accrington.

Political career

In November 2001 he was one of two candidates selected from four to contest the safe Labour seat of Peel Ward on Hyndburn Council. He was re-elected in 2004 and again in 2008.

In 2006 he was elected as the Opposition Leader on Hyndburn Borough Council and remained as such until his resignation as a Councillor from the Council in May 2010, the seat retained by Labour Councillor Wendy Dwyer whom had been Jones' predecessor in the Accrington South division on Lancashire County Council elections.^[5][6]

He also contested the the Accrington South Division (Peel, Baxenden and Barnfield wards) for the County Council amidst the MP's expenses scandal. His majority was reduced from 17.6% to 17.1%, a majority of 469 votes turning it into one of Labour's safer seats.^[7] Across Lancashire County, Labour were reduced from 44 seats to 16.^[8]

Parliamentary career

Hyndburn MP Greg Pope suddenly announced his retirement on the 11 June 2009.,^[9] with Jones being selected by Hydburn Labour party as his successor^[10]

During the build up to the general election in February 2010 the Blackburn Citizen reported that Jones had acted in "technical breach" of council rules in discussing unadopted roads Annie Street, Hodder Street and Manor Street at meetings whilst on one occasion failing to mention that he lived on Hodder Street. The Hyndburn Standards Committee concluded that Jones had not attempted to conceal his address from the council having declared it on other occasions.^[11] He was also involved in a dispute in the run up to the election with rival councillor Peter Britcliffe who implied that Jones had other undeclared property interests by repeatedly shouted "two houses" at Jones during a council meeting. Britcliffe subsequently apologised after legal threats, acknowledging the second home referred to had belonged to a late relative of Jones and was not his property.^[12]

Jones was appointed to the Labour Whips office following Ed Miliband becoming Labour leader in October 2010. He was an assistant whip throughout the 2010-15 Parliament^[13]

In 2011 he introduced a private member's bill under the Ten Minute Rule proposing licensing for scrap metal dealers in an attempt to cut down on metal theft^[14]

In August 2013 he was reselected as the Labour candidate for the next General Election.

Personal life

Jones partner is Kimberley Whitehead. He was previously married and has one son. He also has a daughter with Miss Whitehead.^[15]

He is a lifelong supporter of Blackburn Rovers and attends games at Accrington Stanley.^[15] The chairman of Accrington Stanley, Ilyas Khan, played an active role in supporting Jones' election campaign^[16]

References

External links

• Graham Jones blogspot

• Profile at Parliament of the United Kingdom
• Voting record at Public Whip
• Record in Parliament at TheyWorkForYou