.gif)
Jenny Jones (Green politician)
Encyclopedia
Jenny Jones is an English
politician and prominent member of the Green Party of England and Wales
. She currently represents the Green Party
in the London Assembly
, and is standing to be Mayor of London
in the 2012 elections
. She was Deputy Mayor of London
from May 2003 to June 2004. She was also the sole Green
councillor on Southwark Council
from 2006 to 2010.
. She attended the Institute of Archaeology
at University College London
as a mature student, studying archaeology
. She spent about ten years as an archaeologist
in the Middle East, "specialising in analysing ancient bird droppings", before embarking on a career in politics.
in 1988. She has held several posts within the party, including the position of Chair on the Green Party
Executive from 1995 to 1997.
, Jones was elected to the inaugural London Assembly
as part of a three-strong Green
Group, including Cllr. Darren Johnson
AM and Victor Anderson
(who resigned in March 2003 and was replaced by Noel Lynch
for the remainder of the term). The 2004 GLA elections
would see the Greens
lose the seat held by Lynch
, leaving Jones and Johnson
as the two remaining members of the Green
Group. Jones is now the Green
Group's Convenor.
In May 2003, the Green Party
accepted an offer from the Mayor of London
, Ken Livingstone
, to nominate a Deputy Mayor
and chose Jones, who held the post until June 2004. The London
Green Party
had originally been split on the decision before eventually agreeing to nominate Jones. The offer was part of Livingstone
's pledge to rotate the position of Deputy Mayor
, although he later declined to offer the post to the Conservatives
and had an offer to the Liberal Democrats
turned down.
As a London Assembly
Member, Jenny Jones has promoted the issues of road safety, food, sustainable transport
, social justice and the police and civil liberties.
She is a member of the Metropolitan Police Authority
, has issued a report on traffic policing and has written and spoken about the management and scrutiny of London’s policing in general. She sits on both the MPA’s Strategic and Operational Policing Committee and Civil Liberties Panel. Elsewhere she has put forward a motion and has put questions to the Mayor calling for progress on women’s issues, specifically in relation to violence against women
and support provision.
Jones currently chairs the Planning and Housing Committee, which issued a recent report on food growing and planning in London, Cultivating the Capital. It concluded that "London has only three or four days stocks of food should there be any disruption to supply". Jones issued an individual report in January 2010 on affordable housing in London, which determined that "the cost of buying a home [in London] has risen twice as fast as incomes".
She is also a member of the Confirmation Hearings and Transport Committees.
She has previously held roles as the Mayor
’s Road Safety Ambassador and Green Transport advisor, focusing on road safety and cycling
respectively, as well as being the former Chair of London Food, a mayoral commission which "aims to give Londoners fresher, healthier and more affordable food while reducing the environmental impact of our current food supply". As Chair, Jones was responsible for drawing up the Sustainable Food Strategy for London and chaired the Food Implementation Group overseeing the strategy More recently she also issued a report on the subject of food security in the capital.
ward in the London Borough of Southwark
, the Greens
' first councillor in Southwark
. She came third in the ward, polling 1014 votes. In the 2010 elections
she lost her seat, coming fifth with 1282 votes
, she stood in the Dulwich and West Norwood parliamentary constituency, coming fourth with 2,741 votes (6.5%).
In the 2010 General Election, she stood in the Camberwell and Peckham parliamentary constituency, coming fourth with 1,361 votes (2.9%).
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
politician and prominent member of the Green Party of England and Wales
Green Party of England and Wales
The Green Party of England and Wales is a political party in England and Wales which follows the traditions of Green politics and maintains a strong commitment to social progressivism. It is the largest Green party in the United Kingdom, containing within it various regional divisions including...
. She currently represents the Green Party
Green Party of England and Wales
The Green Party of England and Wales is a political party in England and Wales which follows the traditions of Green politics and maintains a strong commitment to social progressivism. It is the largest Green party in the United Kingdom, containing within it various regional divisions including...
in the London Assembly
London Assembly
The London Assembly is an elected body, part of the Greater London Authority, that scrutinises the activities of the Mayor of London and has the power, with a two-thirds majority, to amend the mayor's annual budget. The assembly was established in 2000 and is headquartered at City Hall on the south...
, and is standing to be Mayor of London
Mayor of London
The Mayor of London is an elected politician who, along with the London Assembly of 25 members, is accountable for the strategic government of Greater London. Conservative Boris Johnson has held the position since 4 May 2008...
in the 2012 elections
London mayoral election, 2012
The 2012 London mayoral election will be held on Thursday 3 May 2012 to elect the Mayor of London. It will be the fourth such election since the post of Mayor of London was started in 2000...
. She was Deputy Mayor of London
Deputy Mayor of London
The Deputy Mayor of London is a member of the London Assembly appointed by the Mayor of London in accordance with the Greater London Authority Act 1999. No particular duties are specified by the Act, except to be available as temporary Mayor during a vacancy or temporary incapacity of the Mayor...
from May 2003 to June 2004. She was also the sole Green
Green Party of England and Wales
The Green Party of England and Wales is a political party in England and Wales which follows the traditions of Green politics and maintains a strong commitment to social progressivism. It is the largest Green party in the United Kingdom, containing within it various regional divisions including...
councillor on Southwark Council
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:...
from 2006 to 2010.
Early life and career
Before entering politics, Jones worked as financial controller in LondonLondon
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
. She attended the Institute of Archaeology
Institute of Archaeology
The UCL Institute of Archaeology is an academic department of the Social & Historical Sciences Faculty of University College London , England. It is one of the largest departments of archaeology in the world, with over 80 members of academic staff and 500 students...
at University College London
University College London
University College London is a public research university located in London, United Kingdom and the oldest and largest constituent college of the federal University of London...
as a mature student, studying archaeology
Archaeology
Archaeology, or archeology , is the study of human society, primarily through the recovery and analysis of the material culture and environmental data that they have left behind, which includes artifacts, architecture, biofacts and cultural landscapes...
. She spent about ten years as an archaeologist
Archaeology
Archaeology, or archeology , is the study of human society, primarily through the recovery and analysis of the material culture and environmental data that they have left behind, which includes artifacts, architecture, biofacts and cultural landscapes...
in the Middle East, "specialising in analysing ancient bird droppings", before embarking on a career in politics.
Political career
Jones joined the Green PartyGreen Party of England and Wales
The Green Party of England and Wales is a political party in England and Wales which follows the traditions of Green politics and maintains a strong commitment to social progressivism. It is the largest Green party in the United Kingdom, containing within it various regional divisions including...
in 1988. She has held several posts within the party, including the position of Chair on the Green Party
Green Party of England and Wales
The Green Party of England and Wales is a political party in England and Wales which follows the traditions of Green politics and maintains a strong commitment to social progressivism. It is the largest Green party in the United Kingdom, containing within it various regional divisions including...
Executive from 1995 to 1997.
London Assembly member
In 2000London Assembly election, 2000
The first elections for members of the London Assembly were held on 4 May 2000, alongside the first mayoral election.The assembly elections used the Mixed member proportional representation, a form of Additional member system, with 14 directly elected constituencies and 11 London-wide top-up...
, Jones was elected to the inaugural London Assembly
London Assembly
The London Assembly is an elected body, part of the Greater London Authority, that scrutinises the activities of the Mayor of London and has the power, with a two-thirds majority, to amend the mayor's annual budget. The assembly was established in 2000 and is headquartered at City Hall on the south...
as part of a three-strong Green
Green Party of England and Wales
The Green Party of England and Wales is a political party in England and Wales which follows the traditions of Green politics and maintains a strong commitment to social progressivism. It is the largest Green party in the United Kingdom, containing within it various regional divisions including...
Group, including Cllr. Darren Johnson
Darren Johnson
Darren Paul Johnson is an English politician and prominent member of the Green Party of England and Wales...
AM and Victor Anderson
Victor Anderson (Green politician)
Victor Anderson is a former London Assembly member, serving from 4 May 2000 to March 2003.He worked as a researcher for Plaid Cymru-Green MP Cynog Dafis, as part of the deal that brought Dafis the Green Party's support....
(who resigned in March 2003 and was replaced by Noel Lynch
Noel Lynch
Noel Lynch is a politician living in England and a prominent member of the Green Party of England and Wales. He represented the Green Party on the London Assembly between 2 May 2003 and 10 June 2004, after replacing Victor Anderson who resigned. Due to a fall in the Green vote, he did not retain...
for the remainder of the term). The 2004 GLA elections
London Assembly election, 2004
An election to the Assembly of London took place on 10 June 2004, along with the London mayoral election, 2004.The Assembly is elected by the Additional Member System. There are fourteen directly elected constituencies, nine of which were won by the Conservatives and five by the Labour Party...
would see the Greens
Green Party of England and Wales
The Green Party of England and Wales is a political party in England and Wales which follows the traditions of Green politics and maintains a strong commitment to social progressivism. It is the largest Green party in the United Kingdom, containing within it various regional divisions including...
lose the seat held by Lynch
Noel Lynch
Noel Lynch is a politician living in England and a prominent member of the Green Party of England and Wales. He represented the Green Party on the London Assembly between 2 May 2003 and 10 June 2004, after replacing Victor Anderson who resigned. Due to a fall in the Green vote, he did not retain...
, leaving Jones and Johnson
Darren Johnson
Darren Paul Johnson is an English politician and prominent member of the Green Party of England and Wales...
as the two remaining members of the Green
Green Party of England and Wales
The Green Party of England and Wales is a political party in England and Wales which follows the traditions of Green politics and maintains a strong commitment to social progressivism. It is the largest Green party in the United Kingdom, containing within it various regional divisions including...
Group. Jones is now the Green
Green Party of England and Wales
The Green Party of England and Wales is a political party in England and Wales which follows the traditions of Green politics and maintains a strong commitment to social progressivism. It is the largest Green party in the United Kingdom, containing within it various regional divisions including...
Group's Convenor.
In May 2003, the Green Party
Green Party of England and Wales
The Green Party of England and Wales is a political party in England and Wales which follows the traditions of Green politics and maintains a strong commitment to social progressivism. It is the largest Green party in the United Kingdom, containing within it various regional divisions including...
accepted an offer from the Mayor of London
Mayor of London
The Mayor of London is an elected politician who, along with the London Assembly of 25 members, is accountable for the strategic government of Greater London. Conservative Boris Johnson has held the position since 4 May 2008...
, Ken Livingstone
Ken Livingstone
Kenneth Robert "Ken" Livingstone is an English politician who is currently a member of the centrist to centre-left Labour Party...
, to nominate a Deputy Mayor
Deputy Mayor of London
The Deputy Mayor of London is a member of the London Assembly appointed by the Mayor of London in accordance with the Greater London Authority Act 1999. No particular duties are specified by the Act, except to be available as temporary Mayor during a vacancy or temporary incapacity of the Mayor...
and chose Jones, who held the post until June 2004. The London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
Green Party
Green Party of England and Wales
The Green Party of England and Wales is a political party in England and Wales which follows the traditions of Green politics and maintains a strong commitment to social progressivism. It is the largest Green party in the United Kingdom, containing within it various regional divisions including...
had originally been split on the decision before eventually agreeing to nominate Jones. The offer was part of Livingstone
Ken Livingstone
Kenneth Robert "Ken" Livingstone is an English politician who is currently a member of the centrist to centre-left Labour Party...
's pledge to rotate the position of Deputy Mayor
Deputy Mayor of London
The Deputy Mayor of London is a member of the London Assembly appointed by the Mayor of London in accordance with the Greater London Authority Act 1999. No particular duties are specified by the Act, except to be available as temporary Mayor during a vacancy or temporary incapacity of the Mayor...
, although he later declined to offer the post to the Conservatives
Conservative Party (UK)
The Conservative Party, formally the Conservative and Unionist Party, is a centre-right political party in the United Kingdom that adheres to the philosophies of conservatism and British unionism. It is the largest political party in the UK, and is currently the largest single party in the House...
and had an offer to the Liberal Democrats
Liberal Democrats
The Liberal Democrats are a social liberal political party in the United Kingdom which supports constitutional and electoral reform, progressive taxation, wealth taxation, human rights laws, cultural liberalism, banking reform and civil liberties .The party was formed in 1988 by a merger of the...
turned down.
As a London Assembly
London Assembly
The London Assembly is an elected body, part of the Greater London Authority, that scrutinises the activities of the Mayor of London and has the power, with a two-thirds majority, to amend the mayor's annual budget. The assembly was established in 2000 and is headquartered at City Hall on the south...
Member, Jenny Jones has promoted the issues of road safety, food, sustainable transport
Sustainable transport
Sustainable transport refers to any means of transport with low impact on the environment, and includes walking and cycling, transit oriented development, green vehicles, CarSharing, and building or protecting urban transport systems that are fuel-efficient, space-saving and promote healthy...
, social justice and the police and civil liberties.
She is a member of the Metropolitan Police Authority
Metropolitan Police Authority
The Metropolitan Police Authority is the police authority responsible for supervising the Metropolitan Police Service, the police force for Greater London ....
, has issued a report on traffic policing and has written and spoken about the management and scrutiny of London’s policing in general. She sits on both the MPA’s Strategic and Operational Policing Committee and Civil Liberties Panel. Elsewhere she has put forward a motion and has put questions to the Mayor calling for progress on women’s issues, specifically in relation to violence against women
Violence against women
Violence against women is a technical term used to collectively refer to violent acts that are primarily or exclusively committed against women...
and support provision.
Jones currently chairs the Planning and Housing Committee, which issued a recent report on food growing and planning in London, Cultivating the Capital. It concluded that "London has only three or four days stocks of food should there be any disruption to supply". Jones issued an individual report in January 2010 on affordable housing in London, which determined that "the cost of buying a home [in London] has risen twice as fast as incomes".
She is also a member of the Confirmation Hearings and Transport Committees.
She has previously held roles as the Mayor
Mayor of London
The Mayor of London is an elected politician who, along with the London Assembly of 25 members, is accountable for the strategic government of Greater London. Conservative Boris Johnson has held the position since 4 May 2008...
’s Road Safety Ambassador and Green Transport advisor, focusing on road safety and cycling
Cycling in London
Cycling in London has enjoyed a renaissance since the millennium. London's cyclists enjoy a cheaper, and often quicker, way around town than those by public transport or car, and as many trips in London are local, these can easily be done by bike. As London's public transport system is...
respectively, as well as being the former Chair of London Food, a mayoral commission which "aims to give Londoners fresher, healthier and more affordable food while reducing the environmental impact of our current food supply". As Chair, Jones was responsible for drawing up the Sustainable Food Strategy for London and chaired the Food Implementation Group overseeing the strategy More recently she also issued a report on the subject of food security in the capital.
Southwark Councillor
In the 2006 local elections, Jones was elected as a councillor for the South CamberwellCamberwell
Camberwell is a district of south London, England, and forms part of the London Borough of Southwark. It is a built-up inner city district located southeast of Charing Cross. To the west it has a boundary with the London Borough of Lambeth.-Toponymy:...
ward 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:...
, the Greens
Green Party of England and Wales
The Green Party of England and Wales is a political party in England and Wales which follows the traditions of Green politics and maintains a strong commitment to social progressivism. It is the largest Green party in the United Kingdom, containing within it various regional divisions including...
' first councillor in 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:...
. She came third in the ward, polling 1014 votes. In the 2010 elections
Southwark Council election, 2010
Elections for Southwark Council were held on the 6 May 2010. The 2010 General Election and other local elections took place on the same day.In London council elections the entire council is elected every four years, opposed to some local elections where one councillor is elected every year for...
she lost her seat, coming fifth with 1282 votes
Parliamentary Candidate
In the 2005 General ElectionUnited Kingdom general election, 2005
The United Kingdom general election of 2005 was held on Thursday, 5 May 2005 to elect 646 members to the British House of Commons. The Labour Party under Tony Blair won its third consecutive victory, but with a majority of 66, reduced from 160....
, she stood in the Dulwich and West Norwood parliamentary constituency, coming fourth with 2,741 votes (6.5%).
In the 2010 General Election, she stood in the Camberwell and Peckham parliamentary constituency, coming fourth with 1,361 votes (2.9%).