Ruth George

Ruth Stephanie Nicole George[1][2] (born 27 November 1969)[1] is a British Labour Party politician, who became the Member of Parliament (MP)[3] for High Peak[4] in Derbyshire at the 2017 United Kingdom general election.[5] George lost the seat back to the Conservatives at the 2019 general election, and now serves as a local councillor in Whaley Bridge, Derbyshire.

Cllr

Ruth George
George in 2017
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
Assumed office
13 February 2020
Preceded byAlison Fox
Personal details
Born
Ruth Stephanie Nicole George[1][2]

(1969-11-27) 27 November 1969 [1]
Epping, Essex, England[1]
Political partyLabour[1]
ResidenceWhaley Bridge
EducationMillfield
Alma materUniversity of Manchester

Early life and professional career

George grew up in Somerset, and attended the independent Millfield boarding school before moving to study Politics and Modern History at the University of Manchester.[6]

George trained as a tax accountant and, while in her twenties, helped to found an accountancy business in Chapel-en-le-Frith.[7][8] Before becoming an MP, George worked at the Central Office of the Union of Shop, Distributive and Allied Workers (USDAW) in Manchester.[2]

Parliamentary career

George was elected to represent the High Peak[4] in Derbyshire at the 2017 United Kingdom general election.[5] She defeated the incumbent Conservative MP Andrew Bingham with a swing of 7%.[8]

In the vote of January 2019, George voted against the Brexit withdrawal agreement.[9]

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'. Acknowledging that she had invoked an antisemitic conspiracy theory, after criticism from Jewish groups, she apologised and withdrew her comment.[10][11][12]

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.[13]

After just over two years in post, she was defeated by Conservative Robert Largan at the 2019 general election.[14] In February 2020, George was elected for Labour to Derbyshire County Council for Whaley Bridge in a by-election.[15]

References
  1. "Ruth George MP". myparliament.info. MyParliament. Archived from the original on 10 August 2017.
  2. "George, Ruth Stephanie Nicole". Who's Who. ukwhoswho.com. 2018 (February 2018 online ed.). A & C Black, an imprint of Bloomsbury Publishing plc. Retrieved 14 February 2018. (subscription or UK public library membership required)
  3. "Members Sworn". Parliamentary Debates (Hansard). United Kingdom: House of Commons. 15 June 2017. col. 26–27.
  4. "Ruth George MP". parliament.uk. Parliament UK.
  5. "High Peak Parliamentary constituency". BBC News. 9 June 2017. Retrieved 9 June 2017.
  6. "Glastonbury woman elected to Parliament". Old Millfieldian Society. 23 June 2017. Retrieved 2 December 2018.
  7. "Ruth George our Parliamentary Candidate". Labour High Peak. 2 May 2017. Retrieved 21 June 2017.
  8. Higgins, Adam (9 June 2017). "High drama in High Peak as Labour take control". Glossop Chronicle. Retrieved 9 June 2017.
  9. "Brexit deal: How did your MP vote?". BBC News. 15 January 2019. Retrieved 7 February 2019.
  10. Sugarman, Daniel (19 February 2019). "MPs may be 'financially backed' by Israel". The Jewish Chronicle. Retrieved 19 February 2019.
  11. 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.
  12. Mason, Rowena (19 February 2019). "Labour MP apologises for suggesting Israel funds Independent Group". The Guardian. Retrieved 19 February 2019.
  13. Cook, Allen (27 March 2019). "Move to ban sky lanterns after devastating fires". BBC.
  14. Smith, Rheia (17 December 2019). "New High Peak MP vows to work around the clock for constituents". Buxton Advertiser. Retrieved 2 January 2020.
  15. Bisknell, Eddie (14 February 2020). "Ruth George Elected as Whaley Bridge Councillor". Glossop Chronicle. Retrieved 14 February 2020.
Parliament of the United Kingdom
Preceded by
Andrew Bingham		 Member of Parliament for High Peak
2017–2019		 Succeeded by
Robert Largan
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