Outside politics, Jones worked for NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde during her tenure as a councillor on East Ayrshire Council.[5] Following her victory in the 2024 general election, it remains unclear whether Jones will retain this post within NHS Scotland whilst serving as MP for Kilmarnock and Loudoun.
Following her election to the House of Commons in the 2024 United Kingdom general election, there had been speculation that a by-election could be held in East Ayrshire Council to replace Jones. Whilst MPs are not prevented from serving as a local councillor and MP at the same time, it is, however, often expected that MPs who serve as councillors at the time they are elected as an MP stand down from their council position.[11] In a video posted to her Facebook account on 2 September 2024, Jones confirmed she had tendered her resignation "with immediate effect" following writing to the Chief Executive of East Ayrshire Council, and confirmed a by-election would be held in the ward to select her successor.[12] The 2024 Kilmarnock West and Crosshouse by–election to elect her successor to the Kilmarnock West and Crosshouse ward is scheduled to take place on 14 November 2024.[13]
Jones was succeeded as Councillor for Kilmarnock West and Crosshouse by Scottish Labour candidate Jayne Sangster following the November 2024 East Ayrshire Council by–election.[14][15]
The Kilmarnock and Loudoun seat had previously been considered a Scottish Labour stronghold, having been represented by a Scottish Labour MP since 1983 until the election of Scottish National Party candidate Alan Brown in the 2015 United Kingdom general election.[18][19] Brown would hold the seat through the subsequent elections, and contested the seat in the 2024 election alongside Jones for Scottish Labour.
Jones was the first Scottish Labour candidate to be declared victorious during election results through 4–5 July, defeating incumbent MP, Alan Brown of the SNP, with a majority of 5,119.[20] Speaking about being elected MP for Kilmarnock and Loudoun, Jones described it as a "poignant moment". Jones said that she felt the result of the election in Kilmarnock and Loudoun "was going to be really close, that’s what was coming through in the polls".[21]
Tenure
Speaking following her victory in the election contesting the Kilmarnock and Loudoun constituency, Jones voted to "deliver what I said I would deliver", and claimed that will be a "a constituency based MP".[22]
