Darren Jones is the Labour Party MP for Bristol North West, having first been elected to Parliament in 2017. He was re-elected in the 2019 General Election with a majority of 5,692 over the Conservative Party.
In Keir Starmer’s September 2023 reshuffle, Jones was elevated to the post of shadow chief secretary to the Treasury. It came after he had served as the highly-rated chair of the commons business select committee since May 2020.
In his role as business select committee chair, Jones became known for his pointed questioning of high-profile officials and business people. In his 30s, he is considered a rising star in the Labour Party.
Prior to September 2023, Jones had been hotly tipped to lead the technology brief for Labour, having positioned himself as a thoughtful contributor on policy relating to artificial intelligence.
But the science, innovation and technology brief eventually went to Peter Kyle, and Jones was given the number two position in the shadow Treasury team. Taking over from the experienced Pat McFadden, he was appointed as shadow chief secretary to the Treasury.
In this role, Jones has been a conspicuous presence in the media, outlining Labour’s fiscal plans.
Jones’ seat of Bristol North West spreads out across the city of Bristol to include the port of Avonmouth. Historically it has been a marginal seat which changed hands every time there was a change of government. However with 61% of the electorate backing Remain in the 2016 EU referendum, it has fallen out of Conservative hands in recent years.
In May 2020, Darren Jones was appointed as Chair of the Business, Energy, Industrial Strategy select Committee. He resigned his post in September 2023, having been appointed to Keir Starmer’s shadow cabinet.
Born in 1986, Darren Jones grew up in Bristol North West. He was educated at the University of Plymouth where he gained a human bioscience degree and the University of the West of England where he gained a graduate degree in law. This led him to becoming and working as a consumer rights lawyer before being elected to Parliament.
At Westminster Jones is the Vice Chair of the All Party Parliamentary Groups on Artificial Intelligence, Consumer Protection, Data Analytics, Human Tracking and Modern Slavery, Marine Energy, Wine and Spirits, and Renewables. He is Chair of the All Party Parliamentary Groups on the Internet, Technology and National Security, and Data Poverty.
Jones is married with two children. He is one of Parliament’s few vegan MPs.
Email – darren.jones.mp@parliament.uk
Website – darren-jones.co.uk
Twitter – @darrenpjones
