Ruth Jones (politician)
Ruth Lorraine Jones (born 23 April 1962[1]) is a Welsh Labour Party politician who has served as the Member of Parliament (MP) for Newport West since winning the seat at a by-election in April 2019.
Ruth Jones | |
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Shadow Minister for Flooding & Coastal Communities | |
In office 15 January 2020 – 9 April 2020 | |
Leader | Jeremy Corbyn |
Preceded by | Luke Pollard |
Succeeded by | Stephanie Peacock |
Member of Parliament for Newport West | |
Assumed office 5 April 2019 | |
Preceded by | Paul Flynn |
Majority | 902 (2.1%) |
Personal details | |
Born | Gaer, Newport, Wales | 23 April 1962
Political party | Labour |
Children | 2 |
Education | Cardiff University |
Profession | Physiotherapist Politician |
Website | ruthjones.wales |
Background
Jones was educated at Duffryn High School in Newport.[2] After training at Cardiff University,[3] she worked as a physiotherapist in the National Health Service from 1983, eventually managing children and adult learning disability services for the Aneurin Bevan University Health Board.[4][5]
Political career
Jones became involved with the professional body and trade union Chartered Society of Physiotherapy (CSP) as a steward, a regional steward, then a member of the CSP Council. In 2007 she was elected president of the Wales TUC for two years. In 2016 she became a full-time senior negotiating officer for the CSP.[5][6]
Jones joined Labour "when Tony Blair was leader",[7] has "declared herself a socialist",[7] but regarding Jeremy Corbyn acknowledges that there are "strong views for him and strong views against him."[8] She describes herself however as neither a member of the Blairite Progress nor the Corbynite Momentum group.[8]
She contested Monmouth for Labour at the 2015 and 2017 general elections.[6]
Jones was placed first on the party list in South East Wales at the 2016 National Assembly election. As Labour won 7 out of the 8 single member constituencies, Labour was not entitled to any extra seats from the Additional Member list, and Jones was not elected.[9]
Jones voted to Remain in the 2016 referendum.[8] She argued following the referendum for the Prime Minister to seek a cross-party "consensus" on leaving the European Union,[8] but says she is opposed to a "damaging Tory Brexit or a no deal outcome".[8] She says that if "Parliament [is unable] to achieve a sensible Brexit", she would support a People's Vote.[8]
Jones was nominated as Labour's Parliamentary candidate for a third time, on this occasion for Newport West in January 2019[10] and was elected as an MP in April 2019 in the Newport West by-election, which had been caused by the death of the sitting Labour MP, Paul Flynn.[11] On a relatively low turnout of 37.1%, Jones took 39.6% (9,308) of the vote, although the Labour majority dropped from 5,658 (in 2017) to 1,951.[12] She was officially sworn in and took her seat in the House of Commons on 8 April 2019,[13] and made her maiden speech on 1 May 2019 in a debate on climate change.[14] Her constituency office at The Estates Office on Gold Tops was opened in June.[15]
Jones stated in 2019 that she supported the now-cancelled M4 relief road in order to relieve traffic congestion on the M4 motorway..[8]
Jones became a member of the Environmental Audit Select Committee in May 2019.[16] She has signed the Long Live the Local pledge to reduce beer duty and business rates.[17]
In August 2019 Jones joined 100 other MPs in calling for Prime Minister Boris Johnson to recall Parliament from the Summer Recess,[18] and was one of 148 Labour MPs who wrote to the Prime Minister demanding he reverse the decision to prorogue Parliament in October for a Queen's Speech prior to the October 31 Brexit date.[19] She voted in favour of the Benn Act, aimed at requiring an extension to Article 50 at the end of October to prevent a no deal exit on 31 October.[20]
Jones was re-elected in the 2019 United Kingdom general election on a slim majority of 2.1%.
Personal life
Jones is married with two adult children,[8] both of whom studied at Glasllwch Primary School where she is a School Governor.[8] She lives in Allt-yr-yn with her husband and nine-year-old miniature dachshund named Monty.[7] She volunteers at a local night shelter scheme as well as being a member of a choir.[8]
References
- "Ruth JONES – Personal Appointments (free information from Companies House)". Retrieved 12 November 2019.
- "About". Ruth Jones for Newport West. Labour Party. Retrieved 5 April 2019.
- Clews, Graham (20 February 2008). "Welsh TUC president talks about life at the top". Frontline. Chartered Society of Physiotherapy. Retrieved 6 April 2019.
- "Newport West by-election candidates named after death of Paul Flynn". Western Mail. 19 March 2019.
- "3 minutes with Ruth Jones". Frontline. Chartered Society of Physiotherapy. 7 September 2016. Retrieved 6 April 2019.
- Deans, David (2 April 2019). "Newport West by-election: Who are the candidates?". BBC News.
- Glaze, Ben (24 March 2019). "Meet Labour's candidate for Newport West – Jeremy Corbyn's next election test". mirror. Retrieved 5 September 2019.
- Mosalski, Ruth (5 April 2019). "Who is Labour's new Newport West MP Ruth Jones?". walesonline. Retrieved 5 September 2019.
- "2016 National Assembly for Wales election", Wikipedia, 27 March 2020, retrieved 27 March 2020
- "Labour chose familiar face for parliamentary candidate". South Wales Argus. Retrieved 5 September 2019.
- "Newport West By-election results | Newport City Council". Government of the United Kingdom. Retrieved 5 April 2019.
- Ferguson, Sam; Craig, Ian (5 April 2019). "Full details as Labour's Ruth Jones wins Newport West by-election with more than 9,000 vote". South Wales Argus. Retrieved 6 April 2019.
- Craig, Ian (8 April 2019). "Ruth Jones is sworn in as Newport West's new MP". South Wales Argus. Retrieved 9 April 2019.
- Ruth Jones (1 May 2019). "Environment and Climate Change". Parliamentary Debates (Hansard). United Kingdom: House of Commons. col. 265.
- "Newport West MP joined by long-serving former Assembly Member as she opens new constituent office". South Wales Argus. Retrieved 5 September 2019.
- "Ruth Jones MP – UK Parliament". www.parliament.uk. Retrieved 10 August 2019.
- "Campaign to keep local pubs open get MP's backing". South Wales Argus. Retrieved 5 September 2019.
- Grew, Tony (18 August 2019). "Recall parliament, 100 MPs demand". The Sunday Times. ISSN 0956-1382. Retrieved 5 September 2019.
- "148 Labour MPs send letter to PM demanding prorogation reversal". LabourList. 2 September 2019. Retrieved 5 September 2019.
- "Here is the full list of 21 rebel Tory MPs who voted against no-deal Brexit". uk.news.yahoo.com. Retrieved 5 September 2019.
External links
- Ruth Jones website
- Profile at Parliament of the United Kingdom
- Contributions in Parliament at Hansard
- Voting record at Public Whip
- Record in Parliament at TheyWorkForYou
Trade union offices | ||
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Preceded by John Burgham |
President of the Wales TUC 2007–2008 |
Succeeded by Vaughan Gething |
Parliament of the United Kingdom | ||
Preceded by Paul Flynn |
Member of Parliament for Newport West 2019–present |
Incumbent |