He attended the Ysgol Gyfun Rhydfelen school on Glyndwr Avenue in Rhydyfelin, Pontypridd.
Jones was a teacher before entering Parliament, teaching biology and science in comprehensive schools from 1977 to 1992.
As part of the investigation into United Kingdom parliamentary expenses scandal, Jones was found to have over claimed £513.10.
[4] He chaired the Forestry Commission's National Committee for Wales until April 2013, when its duties were subsumed by Natural Resources Wales, with Jones snubbed from the NRW board by Welsh Labour Environment Minister John Griffiths.
[5] In April 2019, It was announced that he would be the lead candidate for Change UK in Wales in the 2019 European Elections.