Andrew Jones (British politician)

Andrew Jones was born in Ilkley on 28 November 1963. He was privately educated at Bradford Grammar School, before studying at the University of Leeds. Jones worked for 25 years in various sales and marketing roles before becoming an MP. Jones is a passionate cricket fan and has been a member of Yorkshire County Cricket Club for over twenty years. == Political career ==

At the 2001 general election, Jones stood as the Conservative candidate in Harrogate and Knaresborough, coming second with 34.6% of the vote behind the incumbent Liberal Democrat MP Phil Willis. He became a member of Harrogate Borough Council for the High Harrogate ward in 2003. In 2007, he gained more than half of the votes in his ward. == Parliamentary career ==

At the 2010 general election, Jones was elected to Parliament as MP for Harrogate and Knaresborough with 45.7% of the vote and a majority of 1,039. He made his maiden speech in the House of Commons on 22 June 2010. He joined the Regulatory Reform Select Committee in 2010. Jones was re-elected as MP for Harrogate and Knaresborough at the 2015 general election with an increased vote share of 52.7% and an increased majority of 16,371. Jones campaigned to remain in the European Union during the 2016 Brexit referendum. At the snap 2017 general election, Jones was again re-elected with an increased vote share of 55.5% and an increased majority of 18,168. On 8 January 2018, Prime Minister Theresa May appointed Jones Vice Chair for Business Engagement at Conservative Party HQ, leaving his role as Exchequer Secretary to the Treasury in the process. 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 left this role in July 2019 and held no further ministerial responsibilities. At the 2019 general election, Jones was again re-elected, with a decreased vote share of 52.6% and a decreased majority of 9,675. Jones ultimately lost his seat at the 2024 general election, losing to the Liberal Democrats by a majority of 8,238 votes. == References ==