Susan Jones
Encyclopedia
Susan Elan Jones is a British
Labour Party
politician
, who was elected at the 2010 general election as the Member of Parliament
for Clwyd South
, replacing the previous Labour MP Martyn Jones
on his retirement.
Jones comes from Ponciau
near Rhosllannerchrugog and studied at Bristol University and Cardiff University
. She worked as a fundraiser for charities for 15 years before becoming an MP.
In the 1997 general election
, she stood for Labour in Surrey Heath
, coming third. From 2006 to 2009 she was a councillor in the London Borough of Southwark
and was deputy leader of the opposition from 2007 to 2009.
Jones is an outspoken supporter of the Welsh language, writing in one article: "I would contend that for a Labour supporter being actively pro Welsh language is a natural part of our DNA, as much as supporting public services, tackling low pay or taking on any other equalities cause".
When making her maiden speech in the House of Commons on 9 June 2010 she spoke of the historic discrimination faced by speakers of the Welsh language. In her speech, she compared the ordinary people who campaigned for the Welsh language at times when it had not been fashionable to do so as civil rights activists "in the mould of Mrs Rosa Parks
".
In June 2010, Jones was elected as a member of the Welsh Affairs Select Committee
. She participated in enquiries into funding for S4C
, the Welsh television channel, and initiated the Committee's November 2010 enquiry into access to broadband in North Wales. She has also spoken and published articles on the importance of maintaining adequate funding for S4C, including in Golwg, where she called on the government to ensure that S4C has a voice in its own future.
From October 2010 - October 2011 she served as Parliamentary Private Secretary
to Harriet Harman
MP, the Deputy Leader of the Labour Party, in her role as Shadow Secretary of State for International Development.
In October 2011 she was appointed as a Whip
.
She voted Yes in the referendum on the Alternative Vote .
Jones is fluent in Welsh, and took her Parliamentary Oath of Allegiance in Welsh. She runs a bilingual office and constituents are encouraged to contact her either in English or Welsh. Jones also speaks Japanese, having spent time working in the country.
Jones has strongly advocated the publication of all MPs' expenses and publishes her own expense claims on her website each month.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
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 was elected at the 2010 general election as 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,...
for Clwyd South
Clwyd South (UK Parliament constituency)
Clwyd South is a constituency of the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom . The constituency was created in 1997, and it elects one Member of Parliament by the first past the post method of election.The Clwyd South Welsh Assembly constituency was created with the same...
, replacing the previous Labour MP Martyn Jones
Martyn Jones
Martyn David Jones is a British Labour Party politician who was the Member of Parliament for Clwyd South from 1987 until his retirement at the 2010 general election.-Early life:...
on his retirement.
Jones comes from Ponciau
Ponciau
Ponciau is a village within the community of Rhosllannerchrugog in the county borough of Wrexham, Wales.Ponciau is located close to the villages of Legacy, Pentre Bychan and Johnstown and is overlooked by Ruabon Mountain.-History:...
near Rhosllannerchrugog and studied at Bristol University and Cardiff University
Cardiff University
Cardiff University is a leading research university located in the Cathays Park area of Cardiff, Wales, United Kingdom. It received its Royal charter in 1883 and is a member of the Russell Group of Universities. The university is consistently recognised as providing high quality research-based...
. She worked as a fundraiser for charities for 15 years before becoming an MP.
In the 1997 general election
United Kingdom general election, 1997
The United Kingdom general election, 1997 was held on 1 May 1997, more than five years after the previous election on 9 April 1992, to elect 659 members to the British House of Commons. The Labour Party ended its 18 years in opposition under the leadership of Tony Blair, and won the general...
, she stood for Labour in Surrey Heath
Surrey Heath (UK Parliament constituency)
Surrey Heath 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 the 2005 general election the MP has been Michael Gove, a senior figure in the Conservative Party...
, coming third. From 2006 to 2009 she was a councillor in the London Borough of Southwark
London Borough of Southwark
The London Borough of Southwark is a London borough in south east London, England. It is directly south of the River Thames and the City of London, and forms part of Inner London.-History:...
and was deputy leader of the opposition from 2007 to 2009.
Jones is an outspoken supporter of the Welsh language, writing in one article: "I would contend that for a Labour supporter being actively pro Welsh language is a natural part of our DNA, as much as supporting public services, tackling low pay or taking on any other equalities cause".
When making her maiden speech in the House of Commons on 9 June 2010 she spoke of the historic discrimination faced by speakers of the Welsh language. In her speech, she compared the ordinary people who campaigned for the Welsh language at times when it had not been fashionable to do so as civil rights activists "in the mould of Mrs Rosa Parks
Rosa Parks
Rosa Louise McCauley Parks was an African-American civil rights activist, whom the U.S. Congress called "the first lady of civil rights", and "the mother of the freedom movement"....
".
In June 2010, Jones was elected as a member of the Welsh Affairs Select Committee
Welsh Affairs Select Committee
The Welsh Affairs Select Committee is a select committee of the House of Commons in the Parliament of the United Kingdom...
. She participated in enquiries into funding for S4C
S4C
S4C , currently branded as S4/C, is a Welsh television channel broadcast from the capital, Cardiff. The first television channel to be aimed specifically at a Welsh-speaking audience, it is the fifth oldest British television channel .The channel - initially broadcast on...
, the Welsh television channel, and initiated the Committee's November 2010 enquiry into access to broadband in North Wales. She has also spoken and published articles on the importance of maintaining adequate funding for S4C, including in Golwg, where she called on the government to ensure that S4C has a voice in its own future.
From October 2010 - October 2011 she served as Parliamentary Private Secretary
Parliamentary Private Secretary
A Parliamentary Private Secretary is a role given to a United Kingdom Member of Parliament by a senior minister in government or shadow minister to act as their contact for the House of Commons; this role is junior to that of Parliamentary Under-Secretary, which is a ministerial post, salaried by...
to Harriet Harman
Harriet Harman
Harriet Ruth Harman QC is a British Labour Party politician, who is the Member of Parliament for Camberwell and Peckham, and was MP for the predecessorPeckham constituency from 1982 to 1997...
MP, the Deputy Leader of the Labour Party, in her role as Shadow Secretary of State for International Development.
In October 2011 she was appointed as a Whip
Whip (politics)
A whip is an official in a political party whose primary purpose is to ensure party discipline in a legislature. Whips are a party's "enforcers", who typically offer inducements and threaten punishments for party members to ensure that they vote according to the official party policy...
.
She voted Yes in the referendum on the Alternative Vote .
Jones is fluent in Welsh, and took her Parliamentary Oath of Allegiance in Welsh. She runs a bilingual office and constituents are encouraged to contact her either in English or Welsh. Jones also speaks Japanese, having spent time working in the country.
Jones has strongly advocated the publication of all MPs' expenses and publishes her own expense claims on her website each month.
External links
- Susan Elan Jones MP official website
- Susan Jones MP Labour Party profile
- Susan Jones MP Welsh Labour Party profile