Clive Richard Jones[1] is a British Liberal Democrat politician who has been Member of Parliament (MP) for Wokingham since 2024. Jones was a member of Wokingham Borough Council from 2016 to 2024 and served as the leader of the council in 2022–2023. Before entering politics, he worked in the toy-manufacturing industry.
In 1979, Jones became a management trainee in a toy manufacturer. He remained in the company for 27 years, and was its managing director for the last 11 years. Jones has been a director of the British Toy and Hobby Association, serving as chairman from 2004 to 2006 and president from 2011 to 2014.[2]
Jones was elected to Wokingham Borough Council for the ward of Hawkedon in the 2016 council election.[2] He served as leader of the opposition from October 2021 before becoming the leader of the council in May 2022, succeeding John Halsall.[3][4] Jones stepped down as council leader in May 2023 and was succeeded by Stephen Conway.[5][6] At the 2024 council election, Jones stood down as a councillor to concentrate on his general-election campaign.[7][8]
Jones contested the 2015 and 2017 general elections in Wokingham, finishing in third place on both occasions behind the Conservatives and Labour.[4] In the 2024 general election, Jones was elected as MP for Wokingham, achieving a majority of 8,345 votes over the Conservative candidate and becoming the first non-Conservative MP for the constituency.[8]
Personal life
Jones has lived in Hawkedon, Wokingham, since 1992. He met his wife at a hockey club in Henley-on-Thames, and they have two children.[4]