of the election. The Daily Telegraph described Jones' defeat as "one of the most spectacular general election results of modern times". Peerage and Shadow Minister Following her election defeat, Jones was nominated for a Life Peerage in 2005 by the Labour Party, according to a list leaked to The Times. This leaked list eventually led to the Cash for Peerages scandal in which Jones was not implicated. On 10 April 2006, her nomination for a peerage was officially announced, and she was gazetted as Baroness Jones of Whitchurch, of Whitchurch in the County of South Glamorgan on 5 June 2006. Jones' peerage was widely criticised, with Law stating "That is the way New Labour works. It's a poor example of patronage and power." Labour MP Paul Flynn was also critical, he argued: "This is standing democracy on its head. The House of Lords shouldn't be used to reward a candidate who has been emphatically rejected by the electorate." In June 2010 Jones joined Labour's Shadow Ministerial Team, as Labour's House of Lords spokeswoman on Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport. She was then promoted to the Shadow Education Minister. Since 2015 she has been Labour's Shadow Environment Minister in the Lords. In 2020, Lady Jones was appointed as a member of the South Downs National Park Authority. References External links Labour Party profile 1955 births Living people Welsh trade unionists Labour Party (UK) officials Jones of Whitchurch Life peeresses created by Elizabeth II Alumni of the University of Sussex People educated at Whitchurch Grammar School, Cardiff Chairs of the Labour Party (UK) Women trade unionists Politicians from Cardiff