Martyn Jones

Martyn David Jones MIBiol CIBiol (born 1 March 1947) is a Labour Party politician in Wales.

Early life

Born in Wrexham, he attended Grove Park Grammar School (became the Groves High School then closed in 2003 although a part became Rhosnesni High School) on Penymaes Avenue in Wrexham. He went to Liverpool College of Commerce, then completed a BSc in Microbiology at Liverpool Polytechnic, then an MSc at Trent Polytechnic.

He is a microbiologist, and worked at the Wrexham Lager Beer Company from 1969 until June 1987 before his election to the House of Commons.

Parliamentary career

At the 1987 general election, he was elected as member of Parliament for Clwyd South West, narrowly beating the Conservative incumbent Robert Harvey. He was re-elected at the 1992 general election with an increased majority. His constituency was abolished for the 1997 election, but he was returned to Parliament for the new Clwyd South constituency.

Jones was an opposition whip from 1988 to 1992, and under John Smith's leadership of the Labour Party, he was an opposition spokesperson for Food, Agricultural and Rural Affairs from 1994 to 1995.

He has been a member of the Welsh Affairs Select Committee since 1997, serving as the committee's chair until 2005. He was previously a member of the Agriculture Select Committee.

On 7 May 2009, Jones announced that he would retire at the next general election, expected in May 2010, after being an MP since 1987.^[1]

Richard Brunstrom

Jones has been vocal in his criticism of controversial North Wales Police Chief Constable Richard Brunstrom's decision to use images of a dead motorcyclist as part of the force's contentiously zealous campaign for road safety.^[2]

High Court case

In 2006 the Mail on Sunday newspaper reported that Jones had repeatedly swore at a House of Commons Security Officer.^[3]

Jones denied the Mail's allegations. He took the paper to the High Court to sue them for inaccuracies in the story. He called the article a "grotesque distortion" and was eventually awarded £5,000 in compensation. The paper also had to pay £300,000 in legal costs.^[4]

Dormant Bank Accounts

Martyn Jones MP has been a vocal campaigner on the issue of dormant bank accounts in the UK. The MP has campaigned since 2001 for the issue to be brought to the forefront of British political life. His work on the subject has been praised by senior ministers, such as the Chancellor of the Exchequer (Alistair Darling).^[5]

Personal life

In 1974 he married Rhona Bellis in Wrexham. They have a son and daughter and divorced in 1991.

References

External links

• ePolitix - Martyn Jones
• Guardian Unlimited Politics - Ask Aristotle: Martyn Jones MP
• TheyWorkForYou.com - Martyn Jones MP
• Martyn Jones MP Website Official Site
• Wrexham Labour
• BBC politics

News items

• Mr Brunstrom in November 2007
• Claiming King Arthur in July 2002
• Buys Wrexham Lager for £1 in February 2002
• Rescuing brewery in April 2000

Offices Held