Background
George was born in Wales in 1942 and was educated at the Mountain Ash Grammar School and the University of Wales, Swansea, where he was awarded a Bachelor of Arts degree in political theory and government.
George was born in Wales in 1942 and was educated at the Mountain Ash Grammar School and the University of Wales, Swansea, where he was awarded a Bachelor of Arts degree in political theory and government.
He finished his education at the University of Warwick where he earned a Master"s degree in comparative politics.
He was an assistant lecturer in social studies at the Glamorgan Polytechnic from 1964 to 1966. He lectured in politics at the Manchester Polytechnic from 1968 until he became a senior politics lecturer at the Birmingham Polytechnic in 1970. He left this post when he was elected to Parliament in 1974.
He was also a tutor with the Open University from 1970 until 1973.
George contested Southport at the 1970 general election but was defeated by the sitting Conservative Member of Parliament, Ian Percival, coming third in the poll. He was elected to the House of Commons for Walsall South at the February 1974 general election when he defeated the Conservative candidate by 1,580 votes.
Although he was an Member of Parliament for 36 years, George was never on the frontbench. He is seen as a supporter of North Atlantic Treaty Organization and a strong military.
He is Leader of the United Kingdom Delegation to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization Parliamentary Assembly and was elected Vice President of the Assembly in November 2007.
In 2002, he was elected President of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Organization for Security and Company-operation in Europe, and was re-elected in 2003. Between 2004 and June 2006, he served as President Emeritus and Special Advisor on Mediterranean Affairs. He also regularly acts an election monitor, most recently in the disputed Presidential elections in Ukraine and Georgia.
On 18 February 2010, George announced that he would stand down at the 2010 general election.
He was succeeded in his constituency by Valerie Vaz.
Church of England
46th United Kingdom Parliament. 47th United Kingdom Parliament. 48th United Kingdom Parliament.
49th United Kingdom Parliament.
50th United Kingdom Parliament. 51st United Kingdom Parliament.
52nd United Kingdom Parliament. 53rd United Kingdom Parliament.
54th United Kingdom Parliament]
George served as a member of the House of Commons Defence Select Committee from 1979 until 2005, serving as Chairman of the Committee from 1997 to 2005.
He became a member of the Privy Council in 2001. In October 2011, he was made an Honorary Freeman of the Borough by Walsall Council in recognition of his 36 years service as Member of Parliament for Walsall South.
Spouse Lisa Carolyn George (née Toelle).