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20
May 2023
The MP aiming to win his fifth election in Harrogate and Knaresborough
Today marks 4,762 days since Andrew Jones was elected Conservative MP for Harrogate and Knaresborough.
Mr Jones wrestled the seat off the Liberal Democrats with a slim 1,039 majority in May 2010.
Since then has successfully defended it three times, achieving more than 50% of the vote on each occasion and securing a 9,675 majority in 2019.
But this month's local elections, in which the Conservatives lost more than 1,000 councillors, and Labour's lead in the opinion polls suggest the next election could be closer.
In his first interview with the Stray Ferret, Mr Jones gives his thoughts on the looming general election, which is likely to happen next year, as well as key local issues including the Harrogate Station Gateway and devolution.
Mr Jones, who has been a transport and Treasury minister, says he had "no hesitation whatsoever" in putting forward his name for re-selection in the Harrogate and Knaresborough constituency. He says:
The constituency, and the previous Harrogate constituency that included Knaresborough, has been held by Conservatives continuously since 1950 except when the Liberal Democrat Phil Willis was MP from 1997 to 2010.
But Mr Jones insists he's never regarded it as "anything other than a marginal", adding no seat has been safe for a decade. He says:
Asked how many marks out of 10 he'd give so far for Rishi Sunak's performance as Prime Minister, he says '11'.
His Lib Dem opponent
Mr Jones, who turns 60 in November, will be up against Liberal Democrat Tom Gordon, who at 29 is half his age.
Both men were born in West Yorkshire but while Mr Jones has lived in Harrogate for almost 25 years, Mr Gordon has just moved in.
Mr Gordon portrays himself as a fresh and energetic alternative but Mr Jones says he has "plenty of fuel in the tank" and points out he had a career in business before becoming a Harrogate borough councillor in 2003, representing High Harrogate for two terms before becoming an MP.
By contrast, Mr Gordon, who has twice stood as a prospective parliamentary candidate as well as a councillor in Wakefield and Newcastle has "done an enormous amount of politics" for a 29-year-old, says Mr Jones, who adds:
Supporting the Station Gateway
Few issues have divided Harrogate more in Mr Jones' time as an MP than the £11.2 million Station Gateway, which looks set to go ahead after all five Conservative councillors and five of eight Liberal Democrat councillors on North Yorkshire Council's area constituency committee supported it.
Mr Jones supports the scheme but has reservations, which include the positioning of taxi ranks, unloading outside shops and disabled parking spaces.
He says town centres are changing, with less retail and more hospitality and homes.
He insists the town centre is "vibrant" despite pro-gateway supporters presenting the scheme as a way to regenerate a run-down area blighted by shop closures.
Read more:
- Harrogate business survey reveals opposition to Station Gateway
- £11.2m Station Gateway set to go ahead after crucial Harrogate area vote
He also accused Conswrvative-run North Yorkshire Council of not defending the scheme rigorously enough. He says:
Andrew Jones in Harrogate
What misinformation? He mentions claims traffic will back-up to Ripley and that the scheme is a form of back-door Big Brother by increasing CCTV. He says:
Does he cycle?
He adds he "much prefers the train" to driving but this has been compromised by recent train strikes.
Many businesses oppose the gateway and a recent Harrogate District Chamber of Commerce survey generated three times more responses opposed to the scheme than in favour. Are they wrong?
Sewage and the River Nidd
With the owner of Knaresborough Lido
Mr Jones is leading a high profile campaign alongside the Nidd Action. Group to achieve designated bathing water status on the River Nidd at Knaresborough Lido, which would oblige agencies to clean-up the river.
The Lib Dems have criticised the government's record on tackling the state of rivers. Mr Jones says:
Two hundred people have volunteered to help monitor Nidd usage at the Lido. Mr Jones says:
How confident is he the campaign will achieve bathing water status and will it happen this year?
Harrogate town council concerns
North Yorkshire is undergoing its biggest political upheaval for half a century.
Harrogate Borough Council was abolished at the end of March and a mayor for York and North Yorkshire is likely to be elected next year.
Mr Jones supported devolution but preferred the east-west model that lost out. Was he sorry to see Conservative-controlled Harrogate Borough Council, whose council leader Richard Cooper is his office manager, disappear?
He says the big issue now is ensuring local voices are heard at Northallerton, where North Yorkshire Council is based.
Read more:
- Second consultation to be held on whether to form Harrogate town council
- Zoë Metcalfe confirms bid to become North Yorkshire’s first mayor
He sounds far from convinced about a Harrogate town council, which looks set to be created next year, adding another layer of council tax.
Mr Jones again seems unimpressed by North Yorkshire Council's approach, which has involved consulting on whether people support a town council without specifying what its powers will be. He says:
Won't stand for mayor
Mr Jones flatly ruled himself out of the race to become mayor. "I am not putting my name forward," he says.
Zoe Metcalfe, the Conservative North Yorkshire Police Fire and Crime Commissioner has put her name forward — will he support her?
What about Richard Cooper, who he was worked alongside effectively since the 1990s? Mr Jones says Mr Cooper understands how the political systems and structures work and how to get things done, adding:
1,000 items of correspondence a week
Mr Jones receives 1,000 items of correspondence each week.
Mr Jones, who employs six staff at his constituency office on East Parade in Harrogate, receives about 1,000 pieces of correspondence a week.
He travels to London late on Sunday or early Monday and returns for constituency work on Thursday evening.
Mr Jones, who opposed Brexit, is regarded as being more on the centre ground of the Conservatives than some. Does he agree with the strong language used by Home Secretary Suella Braverman on immigration? He says:
One of Mr Jones' pre-local election newsletters didn't mention he was a Conservative. Why?
Cricket and classical music
Born in Ilkley, Mr Jones father worked in the textile industry in Bradford, and he attended the town's grammar school.
A party loyalist, he is sometimes described as amiable but bland. Is this fair?
He cites improved rail services first when asked to name what he's most proud of.
And his biggest regret or disappointment?
Away from politics, he has been a member of Yorkshire County Cricket Club since his Leeds University student days 40 years ago.
He hopes to attend a couple of days of the Ashes Headingley Test and "get to a couple of county matches as well". He enjoys classical music and says Beethoven and Mahler are "high on the list" but describes himself as a musical "omnivore".
He also likes reading and walking in the Yorkshire Dales. But with the election approaching, his spare time is likely to be in short supply.
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