Helen Jones

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Helen Jones MP
Member of Parliament for Warrington North
Incumbent
Assumed office  1 May 1997
Preceded by	Doug Hoyle
Born	24 December 1954 (1954-12-24) (age 53) Chester, England
Nationality	British
Political party	Labour
Religion	Roman Catholic

Helen Mary Jones (born 24 December 1954, Chester, England) is the Labour Party Member of Parliament for Warrington North.

Jones was first elected at the 1997 General Election and was re-elected in 2001 and 2005. She is described as an "intelligent, battle hardened leftwing solicitor built into the Labour machine"^[1] As of the 28 June 2007, Helen will be Parliamentary Private Secretary to Dawn Primarolo, who is Minister of State for Public Health.

Contents 1 Early life 2 Parliamentary career 3 Voting record 4 Personal life 5 External links 5.1 News items 6 References

[edit] Early life

Jones was educated at St Werburgh's Primary School on Lightfoot Street and Ursuline Convent in Chester. She graduated with a BA from University College London and a MEd from the University of Liverpool. She also holds qualifications from the former Chester College and Manchester Metropolitan University.

Before entering Parliament, Jones had an established political career as a local councillor, serving on Chester City Council from 1984-1991. She was unsuccessful in her initial attempts to move beyond local government, contesting the Lancashire Central constituency at the 1984 European Parliament election, and North Shropshire and Ellesmere Port and Neston at the 1983 and 1987 general elections.

Alongside her political career, Jones has been employed as an English teacher, a solicitor, a development officer with the mental health charity MIND and a justice and peace officer with the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Liverpool.

[edit] Parliamentary career

Jones served as a member of the House of Commons select committees on Catering (1997-98), Public Administration (1998-2000) and Education and Employment (1999-2001 and 2003-). She also served on the Standing Orders Committee (1999-) and the Unopposed Bills (Panel) (1999-). She was also a member of Labour Party backbench committees on Home Affairs (2002-), Education and Employment (1997-2001), Health (1997-2001) and International Development (1997-2001). She served on the all-party groups on Child Abduction (1999-2002) and CAFOD (2003-). She currently serves as Parliamentary Private Secretary to Dawn Primarolo MP.

Her contribution to the Queen’s Speech Debate in 2006 was widely praised by all sides of the House of Commons. Education Secretary Alan Johnson said, "I listened to a number of really good contributions today, but none was better than the speech by the Hon Member for Warrington North. It was one of the most thoughtful and incisive speeches I have heard in the House." ^[2] Opposition MPs described her contribution as "one of the most interesting and eloquent speeches"^[3] and "one of the best speeches I have heard in this place."^[4]

[edit] Voting record

How Helen Jones voted on key issues since 2001 (They Work For You):

• Voted against a transparent Parliament.
• Voted both for and against introducing a smoking ban.
• Voted for introducing ID cards.
• Voted against introducing foundation hospitals.
• Voted both for and against introducing student top-up fees.
• Voted for Labour's anti-terrorism laws.
• Voted for the Iraq war.
• Voted against investigating the Iraq war.
• Voted for replacing Trident.
• Voted for the hunting ban.
• Voted for equal gay rights.

[edit] Personal life

She married Michael Vobe on July 23 1988 in Cheshire and has one son, born June 1989.

[edit] External links

• ePolitix - Helen Jones official site
• Guardian Unlimited Politics - Ask Aristotle: Helen Jones MP
• TheyWorkForYou.com - Helen Jones MP
• BBC Politics page

[edit] News items

• Criticising ambulance service in November 2003

[edit] References

Parliament of the United Kingdom
Preceded by Doug Hoyle	Member of Parliament for Warrington North 1997 – present	Incumbent