Lord Barry Jones: Beloved politician awarded highest honour for 52 years of service to Flintshire

Lord Barry Jones, a beloved politician who has served the Flintshire community for over 50 years, has been granted the freedom of the county.

The honour was bestowed upon Lord Jones by the Flintshire Council in recognition of his dedication and service to the local communities that make up Flintshire.

The decision to award Lord Jones the honour was unanimously backed by the full council and was attended by the man himself and his wife Lady Janet.

The council has also renamed its chamber at County Hall to become ‘The Lord Barry Jones Chamber’.

Lord Jones served as Labour MP for East Flintshire from 1970 to 1983, and then Alyn and Deeside until 2001, an unbroken spell of more than 30 years in which he fought eight general elections.

He is warmly regarded throughout the county for his efforts to save the steelworks in Shotton in the 1970s, amongst his many achievements and dedication to the Flintshire community.

Accepting the honour, Lord Jones praised Flintshire as a “pleasant, fair-minded, open community” and called it “a good place” with “wonderful citizenry” and “nice people”.

He also commended the efforts to drive employment and industry to the area, as well as all the services the authority provides.

Council leader, Flint Castle Cllr Ian Roberts (Lab), proposing the honour, said: “Lord Barry over 52 years has been an exemplary example of public service in Flintshire.

I would like to say thank you for everything that you have done for this county, both yourself and Lady Janet deserve richly this honour.”

Members from across the political spectrum paid tribute to Lord Jones, with Cllr Bernie Attridge stating: “He is a man of the people, always had time to stop and speak.”

“Your commitment and dedication to bring the biggest industrial estate in the country at the time to Deeside industrial park after you had stood shoulder to shoulder with our steelworkers and families when the lights went out at British Steel, Lord Jones you showed leadership when it was needed the most.”

“You stood up for your constituents in the halls of Westminster and still to this day in the House of Lords.”

Lord Jones, who is now 84 years-old, continues to work tirelessly for the people, businesses, and community groups across the county.

The award of the freedom of the county and the renaming of the council chamber is a testament to his dedication and service to the Flintshire community.

[Reporting, Deeside.com, Rory Sheehan, Local Democracy Reporter]