Andrew Jones (British politician)

Andrew Hanson Jones (born 28 November 1963) is a British Conservative Party politician who has been the Member of Parliament (MP) for the Harrogate and Knaresborough constituency in North Yorkshire since 2010. In November 2018 he became a Parliamentary Under Secretary of State at the Department for Transport but was removed from this role in July 2019.

For other politicians of this name, see Andrew Jones (disambiguation).

Andrew Jones

MP
Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Transport
In office
12 November 2018 – 26 July 2019
Prime MinisterTheresa May
Preceded byJesse Norman
Succeeded byPaul Maynard
In office
11 May 2015 – 15 June 2017
Prime MinisterDavid Cameron
Theresa May
Preceded byThe Baroness Kramer
Succeeded byJesse Norman
Vice Chairman of the Conservative Party for Business Engagement
In office
8 January 2018 – 12 November 2018
LeaderTheresa May
Preceded byposition established
Succeeded byJames Morris
Exchequer Secretary to the Treasury
In office
16 June 2017 – 8 January 2018
Prime MinisterTheresa May
Preceded byDamian Hinds (2016)
Succeeded byRobert Jenrick
Member of Parliament
for Harrogate and Knaresborough
Assumed office
6 May 2010
Preceded byPhil Willis
Majority9,675 (17.0%)
Personal details
Born (1963-11-28) 28 November 1963[1]
Ilkley, West Riding of Yorkshire, England
NationalityBritish
Political partyConservative
Alma materUniversity of Leeds
Websitewebsite

Early life

Born in Ilkley, West Riding of Yorkshire, Jones was educated at the independent Bradford Grammar School and the University of Leeds.[2]

Jones worked for 25 years in various sales and marketing roles before becoming an MP.[2] He chaired Conservative think-tank the Bow Group from 1999 to 2000.[3]

He became a member of Harrogate Borough Council for the High Harrogate ward in 2003.[4] In 2007, he gained more than half of the votes in his ward.[5] He became Cabinet Member for Finance and Resources on the council.

Jones is a passionate cricket fan and has been a member of Yorkshire County Cricket Club for over twenty years.[3]

Member of Parliament

On 6 May 2010, Jones was elected MP for Harrogate and Knaresborough ending 13 years of Liberal Democrat control. He secured this with a 9.1% swing. Jones had previously unsuccessfully contested the seat in 2001.[6]

Jones made his maiden speech in the House of Commons on 22 June 2010.[7]

He served as the Parliamentary Private Secretary (PPS) to Transport Secretary Justine Greening, and then to Chief Whip Andrew Mitchell. He was subsequently appointed as a Government Apprenticeship Ambassador and PPS to Jeremy Hunt, Secretary of State for Health. He joined the Regulatory Reform Select Committee in 2010.[6]

Jones has consistently voted on 15 occasions for reducing housing benefit for social tenants deemed to have excess bedrooms (which Labour describe as the "bedroom tax"). He has voted 53 times for a reduction in spending on welfare benefits.[8]

Jones campaigned to remain in the European Union during the 2016 European Union referendum. On 13 March 2019, he voted for a no-deal Brexit, backing the Malthouse amendment, which was defeated.[9]

On 8 January 2018, Jones was reshuffled from Exchequer Secretary to the Treasury to Vice Chair for Business Engagement within the Conservative Party HQ.[10]

On 12 November 2018, Jones was reappointed to the Department for Transport to replace Jo Johnson MP as Parliamentary Under Secretary of State, a position he last held in 2017. He was removed from this role in July 2019, and currently has no ministerial responsibilities.[11]

References
  1. "Councillor Andrew Jones MP". BBC Democracy Live. BBC. Retrieved 25 July 2010.
  2. "Andrew Jones". Politics.co.uk. Retrieved 26 March 2015.
  3. "Conservative Party Website". Retrieved 28 October 2019.
  4. Andrew Jones at harrogate.gov.uk
  5. Harrogate Borough Council District Council Election 3 May 2007 at harrogate.gov.uk
  6. "Andrew Jones". Parliament UK. Retrieved 26 March 2015.
  7. "Capital Gains Tax (Rates)". House of Commons Debates. TheyWorkForYou.com. 23 June 2010. Retrieved 10 August 2010.
  8. "Voting record - Andrew Jones MP, Harrogate and Knaresborough". TheyWorkForYou. Retrieved 3 November 2020.
  9. "MPs oppose a no-deal Brexit and vote down the Malthouse B plan – how they voted". Brexit and Ireland. Retrieved 15 March 2019.
  10. "Harrogate MP Andrew Jones on new business role within government". Retrieved 2 March 2018.
  11. "Andrew Jones at Gov.uk". Retrieved 30 November 2018.
Parliament of the United Kingdom
Preceded by
Phil Willis		 Member of Parliament for Harrogate and Knaresborough
2010–present		 Incumbent
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