Gareth Jones (Welsh politician)
Encyclopedia
Gareth Jones OBE
(born 14 May 1939) is a Welsh
politician
. He was a member of the National Assembly for Wales
for the Aberconwy constituency from 1999 to 2011, as well as being a Llandudno
town council
lor representing the Craig-y-Don
ward.
In July 2007 he was elected Chair of the Assembly's new Enterprise and Learning Committee.
Prior to winning the Aberconwy constituency he was the cabinet
member for finance and resources and the leader of the Plaid Cymru
party group on Conwy County Borough Council
.
On September 26, 2010, Gareth Jones announced that he would not be standing for election in the 2011 National Assembly for Wales elections.
but now lives in Craig-y-Don
, a suburb of Llandudno
. A former headmaster of Ysgol John Bright
, Llandudno's secondary school, he graduated with a B.A.
from the University of Wales, Swansea. Gareth Jones' political interests include social justice
, the Welsh language
and education. His hobbies include reading and walking. His wife formerly owned a local bookshop.
for the then constituency of Conwy
and was Shadow Minister for Education and later Chair
of the Education Committee. In the 2003 Assembly election, he lost his seat by the narrow margin of 72 votes to Labour's Denise Idris Jones
amid allegations of electoral fraud
by Royal Mail
(after they failed to deliver some 11,000 of his electoral leaflets to parts of Llandudno
and surrounding areas).
In 2007, in the new constituency of Aberconwy
that was created following boundary changes, Jones defeated the Conservative candidate, Dylan Jones-Evans
by a margin of 1,700 votes, as well as Denise Idris Jones who came in third place. Jones, who mainly campaigned in the run up to the election against potential downgrading of services at Ysbyty Llandudno hospital (as well as against the proposed Gwynt-y-Môr off-shore windfarm
and for affordable housing), was granted permission by the Electoral Commission
to have the phrase Save Llandudno Hospital used by his name on the ballot paper; but, following Jones's victory, the local Labour Party spokesperson described this as dishonest "scaremongering", claiming that the hospital was not under threat of closure under the incumbent Labour Welsh Assembly Government
.
He has also held several posts within his political party, Plaid Cymru
- the Party of Wales, including being a member of the National Executive Committee.
Prior to his re-election he was an active member of the Llandudno Hospital Action Group, and a Trustee
of Llandudno's St David's Hospice
. He remains a Board Member of Aberconwy Women's Aid
and of the National Welsh Language and Heritage Centre at Nant Gwrtheyrn
, Chair of Deganwy Chapel, and Patron of Tyddyn Bach, a respite centre for HIV patients and families in Penmaenmawr
.
On September 26, 2010, Gareth Jones announced that he would not be standing for election in the 2011 National Assembly for Wales elections.
Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
(born 14 May 1939) is a Welsh
Wales
Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
politician
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
. He was a member of the National Assembly for Wales
National Assembly for Wales
The National Assembly for Wales is a devolved assembly with power to make legislation in Wales. The Assembly comprises 60 members, who are known as Assembly Members, or AMs...
for the Aberconwy constituency from 1999 to 2011, as well as being a Llandudno
Llandudno
Llandudno is a seaside resort and town in Conwy County Borough, Wales. In the 2001 UK census it had a population of 20,090 including that of Penrhyn Bay and Penrhynside, which are within the Llandudno Community...
town council
Town council
A town council is a democratically elected form of government for small municipalities or civil parishes. A council may serve as both the representative and executive branch....
lor representing the Craig-y-Don
Craig-y-Don
Craig-y-Don is a suburb of Llandudno, a coastal seaside resort in Conwy county borough, north Wales.It is also part of the parish of Llanrhos, and forms coterminous wards of both Conwy County Borough Council and Llandudno Town Council.- Amenities :...
ward.
In July 2007 he was elected Chair of the Assembly's new Enterprise and Learning Committee.
Prior to winning the Aberconwy constituency he was the cabinet
Cabinet (government)
A Cabinet is a body of high ranking government officials, typically representing the executive branch. It can also sometimes be referred to as the Council of Ministers, an Executive Council, or an Executive Committee.- Overview :...
member for finance and resources and the leader of the Plaid Cymru
Plaid Cymru
' is a political party in Wales. It advocates the establishment of an independent Welsh state within the European Union. was formed in 1925 and won its first seat in 1966...
party group on Conwy County Borough Council
Conwy County Borough Council
Conwy County Borough Council is the governing body for Conwy County Borough, one of the unitary authority areas of Wales.-Political makeup:Elections take place every four years...
.
On September 26, 2010, Gareth Jones announced that he would not be standing for election in the 2011 National Assembly for Wales elections.
Personal
Gareth Jones was born in Blaenau FfestiniogBlaenau Ffestiniog
Blaenau Ffestiniog is a town in Gwynedd, north-west Wales. It has a population of 5,000, including Llan Ffestiniog, which makes it the third largest town in Gwynedd, behind Caernarfon & Porthmadog. Although the population reached 12,000 at the peak of the slate industry, the population fell due to...
but now lives in Craig-y-Don
Craig-y-Don
Craig-y-Don is a suburb of Llandudno, a coastal seaside resort in Conwy county borough, north Wales.It is also part of the parish of Llanrhos, and forms coterminous wards of both Conwy County Borough Council and Llandudno Town Council.- Amenities :...
, a suburb of Llandudno
Llandudno
Llandudno is a seaside resort and town in Conwy County Borough, Wales. In the 2001 UK census it had a population of 20,090 including that of Penrhyn Bay and Penrhynside, which are within the Llandudno Community...
. A former headmaster of Ysgol John Bright
Ysgol John Bright
Ysgol John Bright is a secondary school on Maesdu Road, Llandudno in Conwy County Borough, Wales. It serves the state secondary education sector in the Llandudno area and has around 1200 pupils. The school was recently rebuilt and opened in September 2004...
, Llandudno's secondary school, he graduated with a B.A.
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...
from the University of Wales, Swansea. Gareth Jones' political interests include social justice
Social justice
Social justice generally refers to the idea of creating a society or institution that is based on the principles of equality and solidarity, that understands and values human rights, and that recognizes the dignity of every human being. The term and modern concept of "social justice" was coined by...
, the Welsh language
Welsh language
Welsh is a member of the Brythonic branch of the Celtic languages spoken natively in Wales, by some along the Welsh border in England, and in Y Wladfa...
and education. His hobbies include reading and walking. His wife formerly owned a local bookshop.
Political career
Between 1999 and 2003, Jones was a member of the National Assembly for WalesNational Assembly for Wales
The National Assembly for Wales is a devolved assembly with power to make legislation in Wales. The Assembly comprises 60 members, who are known as Assembly Members, or AMs...
for the then constituency of Conwy
Conwy (National Assembly for Wales constituency)
Conwy was a constituency of the National Assembly for Wales from 1999 to 2007. It elected one Assembly Member by the first past the post method of election...
and was Shadow Minister for Education and later Chair
Chair
A chair is a stable, raised surface used to sit on, commonly for use by one person. Chairs are most often supported by four legs and have a back; however, a chair can have three legs or could have a different shape depending on the criteria of the chair specifications. A chair without a back or...
of the Education Committee. In the 2003 Assembly election, he lost his seat by the narrow margin of 72 votes to Labour's Denise Idris Jones
Denise Idris Jones
Denise Idris Jones was a Labour member of the National Assembly for Wales for the Conwy Assembly constituency. She is a native of Rhosllanerchrugog, near Wrexham and speaks Welsh, English and French....
amid allegations of electoral fraud
Electoral fraud
Electoral fraud is illegal interference with the process of an election. Acts of fraud affect vote counts to bring about an election result, whether by increasing the vote share of the favored candidate, depressing the vote share of the rival candidates or both...
by Royal Mail
Royal Mail
Royal Mail is the government-owned postal service in the United Kingdom. Royal Mail Holdings plc owns Royal Mail Group Limited, which in turn operates the brands Royal Mail and Parcelforce Worldwide...
(after they failed to deliver some 11,000 of his electoral leaflets to parts of Llandudno
Llandudno
Llandudno is a seaside resort and town in Conwy County Borough, Wales. In the 2001 UK census it had a population of 20,090 including that of Penrhyn Bay and Penrhynside, which are within the Llandudno Community...
and surrounding areas).
In 2007, in the new constituency of Aberconwy
Aberconwy (Assembly constituency)
Aberconwy is a constituency of the National Assembly for Wales, created for the 2007 Assembly election. It elects one Assembly Member by the first past the post method of election...
that was created following boundary changes, Jones defeated the Conservative candidate, Dylan Jones-Evans
Dylan Jones-Evans
Dylan Jones-Evans is Director of Enterprise and Innovation at the University of Wales and Chairman of the Welsh Conservatives' Economic Commission.-Professional career:...
by a margin of 1,700 votes, as well as Denise Idris Jones who came in third place. Jones, who mainly campaigned in the run up to the election against potential downgrading of services at Ysbyty Llandudno hospital (as well as against the proposed Gwynt-y-Môr off-shore windfarm
WindFarm
WindFarm is wind energy software used to analyse, design, optimise and visualise wind farms. It calculates and optimises the energy yield subject to natural, planning and engineering constraints. WindFarm has the wind modelling software MS-Micro integrated. MS-Micro is based on the same...
and for affordable housing), was granted permission by the Electoral Commission
Electoral Commission (United Kingdom)
The Electoral Commission is an independent body set up by the UK Parliament. It regulates party and election finance and sets standards for well-run elections...
to have the phrase Save Llandudno Hospital used by his name on the ballot paper; but, following Jones's victory, the local Labour Party spokesperson described this as dishonest "scaremongering", claiming that the hospital was not under threat of closure under the incumbent Labour Welsh Assembly Government
Welsh Assembly Government
The Welsh Government is the devolved government of Wales. It is accountable to the National Assembly for Wales, the legislature which represents the interests of the people of Wales and makes laws for Wales...
.
He has also held several posts within his political party, Plaid Cymru
Plaid Cymru
' is a political party in Wales. It advocates the establishment of an independent Welsh state within the European Union. was formed in 1925 and won its first seat in 1966...
- the Party of Wales, including being a member of the National Executive Committee.
Prior to his re-election he was an active member of the Llandudno Hospital Action Group, and a Trustee
Trustee
Trustee is a legal term which, in its broadest sense, can refer to any person who holds property, authority, or a position of trust or responsibility for the benefit of another...
of Llandudno's St David's Hospice
Hospice
Hospice is a type of care and a philosophy of care which focuses on the palliation of a terminally ill patient's symptoms.In the United States and Canada:*Gentiva Health Services, national provider of hospice and home health services...
. He remains a Board Member of Aberconwy Women's Aid
Women's Aid
Women's Aid is a group of feminist charities across the United Kingdom. There are four main Women's Aid Federations, one for each country. Its aim is to end domestic violence against women and children...
and of the National Welsh Language and Heritage Centre at Nant Gwrtheyrn
Nant Gwrtheyrn
Nant Gwrtheyrn is a Welsh Language and Heritage Centre, located near near the village of Llithfaen on the northern coast of the Llŷn Peninsula, Gwynedd, in northwest Wales....
, Chair of Deganwy Chapel, and Patron of Tyddyn Bach, a respite centre for HIV patients and families in Penmaenmawr
Penmaenmawr
PenmaenmawrConwyPenmaenmawr is a town in the parish of Dwygyfylchi, in Conwy County Borough, Wales. The population was 3857 in 2001. It is a quarrying town, though the latter is no longer a major employer, on the North Wales coast between Conwy and Llanfairfechan.The town was bypassed by the A55...
.
On September 26, 2010, Gareth Jones announced that he would not be standing for election in the 2011 National Assembly for Wales elections.
External links
- Plaid Cymru Website
- BBC News
- National Assembly for Wales Register of Members Interests
- National Assembly for Wales