Kevan Jones
Encyclopedia
Kevan David Jones is a British
Labour Party
politician
, who has been the Member of Parliament
(MP) for North Durham
since 2001
.
and is the son of a coal miner. He went to the comprehensive Portland School on Sparken Hill in Worksop
. He attended Newcastle Polytechnic
(now Northumbria University) and the University of Southern Maine
in the U.S.
, gaining a BA
(Hons) in Government & Public Policy. Before becoming an MP, he was a Newcastle upon Tyne
councillor from 1990 - March 2001 where he was Chairman of the Development Committee, and an elected political and legal officer of the GMB Union
.
, and also a member of the Labour Party's Parliamentary Committee. His Private Member's Bill
, the Christmas Day (Trading) Act 2004
, successfully passed Parliament, and came into force in December 2004. The Act makes it illegal for large shops to open on Christmas Day.
Kevan Jones was re-elected to the North Durham seat in the 2005 general election, with a majority of 16,781. He polled 64.1% of the vote.
.
Jones described Joanna Lumley
's behaviour following her fight for Gurkha rights as 'irritating'. Mr Jones said that, having raised the issue and forced the change, Miss Lumley had a responsibility to help explain the new rules to the Gurkhas. She had not done so, he said. Ms Lumley refused to comment.
and Pelton Brass Band for successfully completing their exams.
British people
The British are citizens of the United Kingdom, of the Isle of Man, any of the Channel Islands, or of any of the British overseas territories, and their descendants...
Labour Party
Labour Party (UK)
The Labour Party is a centre-left democratic socialist party in the United Kingdom. It surpassed the Liberal Party in general elections during the early 1920s, forming minority governments under Ramsay MacDonald in 1924 and 1929-1931. The party was in a wartime coalition from 1940 to 1945, after...
politician
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
, who has been the Member of Parliament
Member of Parliament
A Member of Parliament is a representative of the voters to a :parliament. In many countries with bicameral parliaments, the term applies specifically to members of the lower house, as upper houses often have a different title, such as senate, and thus also have different titles for its members,...
(MP) for North Durham
North Durham (UK Parliament constituency)
North Durham is a county constituency represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. It elects one Member of Parliament by the first past the post system of election....
since 2001
United Kingdom general election, 2001
The United Kingdom general election, 2001 was held on Thursday 7 June 2001 to elect 659 members to the British House of Commons. It was dubbed "the quiet landslide" by the media, as the Labour Party was re-elected with another landslide result and only suffered a net loss of 6 seats...
.
Early life
Jones was born in NottinghamshireNottinghamshire
Nottinghamshire is a county in the East Midlands of England, bordering South Yorkshire to the north-west, Lincolnshire to the east, Leicestershire to the south, and Derbyshire to the west...
and is the son of a coal miner. He went to the comprehensive Portland School on Sparken Hill in Worksop
Worksop
Worksop is the largest town in the Bassetlaw district of Nottinghamshire, England on the River Ryton at the northern edge of Sherwood Forest. It is about east-south-east of the City of Sheffield and its population is estimated to be 39,800...
. He attended Newcastle Polytechnic
Northumbria University
Northumbria University is an academic institution located in Newcastle upon Tyne in the North East of England. It is a member of the University Alliance.- History :...
(now Northumbria University) and the University of Southern Maine
University of Southern Maine
The University of Southern Maine is a multi-campus public urban comprehensive university and part of the University of Maine System. USM's three primary campuses are located in Portland, Gorham, and Lewiston...
in the U.S.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, gaining a BA
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
(Hons) in Government & Public Policy. Before becoming an MP, he was a Newcastle upon Tyne
Newcastle upon Tyne
Newcastle upon Tyne is a city and metropolitan borough of Tyne and Wear, in North East England. Historically a part of Northumberland, it is situated on the north bank of the River Tyne...
councillor from 1990 - March 2001 where he was Chairman of the Development Committee, and an elected political and legal officer of the GMB Union
GMB Union
The GMB is a general trade union in the United Kingdom, and has more than 600,000 members. Its members are drawn from many sectors, with particular strength amongst manual workers in local government and the health service...
.
Parliamentary career
He was a member of the influential Defence Select CommitteeDefence Select Committee
The Defence Select Committee is one of the Select Committees of the British House of Commons, having been established in 1979. It oversees the operations of the Ministry of Defence and its associated public bodies, including the armed forces.-Membership:...
, and also a member of the Labour Party's Parliamentary Committee. His Private Member's Bill
Private Member's Bill
A member of parliament’s legislative motion, called a private member's bill or a member's bill in some parliaments, is a proposed law introduced by a member of a legislature. In most countries with a parliamentary system, most bills are proposed by the government, not by individual members of the...
, the Christmas Day (Trading) Act 2004
Christmas Day (Trading) Act 2004
The Christmas Day Act 2004 is an Act of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. It prevents shops over 280 m²/3,000 sq ft from opening on Christmas Day in England and Wales...
, successfully passed Parliament, and came into force in December 2004. The Act makes it illegal for large shops to open on Christmas Day.
Kevan Jones was re-elected to the North Durham seat in the 2005 general election, with a majority of 16,781. He polled 64.1% of the vote.
Ministerial career
In October 2008 he was appointed Parliamentary Under Secretary of State and Minister for Veterans at the Ministry of DefenceMinistry of Defence (United Kingdom)
The Ministry of Defence is the United Kingdom government department responsible for implementation of government defence policy and is the headquarters of the British Armed Forces....
.
Jones described Joanna Lumley
Joanna Lumley
Joanna Lamond Lumley, OBE, FRGS is a British actress, voice-over artist, former-model and author, best known for her roles in British television series Absolutely Fabulous portraying Edina Monsoon's best friend, Patsy Stone, as well as parts in The New Avengers, Sapphire & Steel, and Sensitive...
's behaviour following her fight for Gurkha rights as 'irritating'. Mr Jones said that, having raised the issue and forced the change, Miss Lumley had a responsibility to help explain the new rules to the Gurkhas. She had not done so, he said. Ms Lumley refused to comment.
Community links
Kevan Jones has many links with local community, such as when he presented certificates to school children from the OustonOuston, County Durham
Ouston is a village in County Durham, approximately 5 miles to the south-west of the city of Newcastle upon Tyne in the north-east of England...
and Pelton Brass Band for successfully completing their exams.
External links
- Guardian Unlimited Politics - Ask Aristotle: Kevan Jones MP
- TheyWorkForYou.com - Kevan Jones MP
- Voting record at the Public Whip
- BBC Politics page