Ruth George

Cllr
Ruth George
Official portrait, 2017
Deputy Leader of the Labour Group on Derbyshire County Council
Incumbent
Assumed office
19 May 2021
LeaderJoan Dixon
Preceded byMick Wall
Member of Parliament
for High Peak
In office
8 June 2017 – 6 November 2019
Preceded byAndrew Bingham
Succeeded byRobert Largan
Member of Derbyshire County Council
for Whaley Bridge
Incumbent
Assumed office
13 February 2020
Preceded byAlison Fox
Personal details
Born
Ruth Stephanie Nicole George

(1969-11-27) 27 November 1969 (age 55)
Epping, Essex, England[1]
Political partyLabour
ResidenceTunstead Milton
EducationMillfield
Alma materUniversity of Manchester

Ruth Stephanie Nicole George[1][2] (born 27 November 1969)[1] is a British politician who served as Member of Parliament (MP) for High Peak from 2017 to 2019. A member of the Labour Party, she has been a Member of Derbyshire County Council since 2020.

Early life and professional career

Born in Epping, Essex, George grew up in Somerset and attended the independent Millfield boarding school. She later studied Politics and Modern History at the University of Manchester.[3]

George trained as a tax accountant and, while in her twenties, helped to found an accountancy business in Chapel-en-le-Frith.[4][5] Before becoming an MP, George worked at the Central Office of the Union of Shop, Distributive and Allied Workers (USDAW) in Manchester.[2]

Political career

Parliamentary career

George was selected as the Labour candidate for the High Peak constituency on 1 May 2017, and contested Whaley Bridge ward at the 2017 Derbyshire County Council elections three days later.[6] Although she was unsuccessful in the local council election, George gained the parliamentary seat from incumbent Conservative Andrew Bingham at the 2017 general election with a 7% swing and a 2,322 majority.[7][8][5][9]

In the vote of January 2019, George voted against the Brexit withdrawal agreement.[10]

On 19 February 2019, after a Labour councillor suggested The Independent Group's financial backers were "Israelis" on Facebook, George responded that 'Support from the State of Israel, which supports both Conservative and Labour 'Friends of Israel' of which Luciana was chair is possible and I would not condemn those who suggest it, especially when the group's financial backers are not being revealed'. After criticism from Jewish groups, which had accused her of invoking an antisemitic conspiracy theory, she apologised and withdrew her comment.[11][12][13]

On Wednesday 27 March 2019, her Ten Minute Rule Bill calling for sky lanterns to be banned, after there had been some major fires, was passed.[14]

After just over two years in post, she was defeated by Conservative Robert Largan at the 2019 general election.[15]

Local government

George was elected to represent Whaley Bridge on Derbyshire County Council in a February 2020 by-election.[16] She was re-elected at the 2021 Derbyshire County Council elections in May 2021, despite a challenge from former MP Edwina Currie.[17] Following the elections, George was elected Deputy Leader of the Labour Group on the council after her predecessor lost his seat.[18]

References

  1. ^ a b c "Ruth George MP". myparliament.info. MyParliament. Archived from the original on 10 August 2017.
  2. ^ a b "George, Ruth Stephanie Nicole". Who's Who. Vol. 2018 (February 2018 online ed.). A & C Black. Retrieved 14 February 2018. (Subscription or UK public library membership required.)
  3. ^ "Glastonbury woman elected to Parliament". Old Millfieldian Society. 23 June 2017. Archived from the original on 2 December 2018. Retrieved 2 December 2018.
  4. ^ "Ruth George our Parliamentary Candidate". Labour High Peak. 2 May 2017. Retrieved 21 June 2017.
  5. ^ a b Higgins, Adam (9 June 2017). "High drama in High Peak as Labour take control". Glossop Chronicle. Retrieved 9 June 2017.
  6. ^ @LabourHighPeak (1 May 2017). "Congratulations to Ruth George who has been selected as the Labour Parliamentary candidate for the High Peak" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  7. ^ "Ruth George MP". parliament.uk. Parliament UK.
  8. ^ "High Peak Parliamentary constituency". BBC News. 9 June 2017. Retrieved 9 June 2017.
  9. ^ "Members Sworn". Parliamentary Debates (Hansard). United Kingdom: House of Commons. 15 June 2017. col. 26–27.
  10. ^ "Brexit deal: How did your MP vote?". BBC News. 15 January 2019. Retrieved 7 February 2019.
  11. ^ Sugarman, Daniel (19 February 2019). "MPs may be 'financially backed' by Israel". The Jewish Chronicle. Retrieved 19 February 2019.
  12. ^ Heffer, Greg (19 February 2019). "Ruth George MP sorry for 'conspiracy theory' that Labour quitters are backed by Israel". Sky News. Retrieved 19 February 2019.
  13. ^ Mason, Rowena (19 February 2019). "Labour MP apologises for suggesting Israel funds Independent Group". The Guardian. Retrieved 19 February 2019.
  14. ^ Cook, Allen (27 March 2019). "Move to ban sky lanterns after devastating fires". BBC.
  15. ^ Smith, Rheia (17 December 2019). "New High Peak MP vows to work around the clock for constituents". Buxton Advertiser. Retrieved 2 January 2020.
  16. ^ Bisknell, Eddie (14 February 2020). "Ruth George Elected as Whaley Bridge Councillor". Glossop Chronicle. Retrieved 14 February 2020.
  17. ^ "Local elections: Edwina Currie eyes return to politics". BBC News. 16 February 2021. Retrieved 17 February 2021.
  18. ^ Bisknell, Eddie (19 May 2021). "Meet the women now leading the Labour Party in Derbyshire". Derby Telegraph. Retrieved 21 May 2021.
Parliament of the United Kingdom
Preceded by Member of Parliament for High Peak
2017–2019 		Succeeded by