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In 2017, a 2016 tweet surfaced from @ruthforhighpeak, reading "I enjoyed Theresa May's LABOUR party speech at #CPC16 today. So much better than Mein Fuhrer Amber Rudd yesterday." George's personal Twitter account had stated she also "tweets as @ruthforhighpeak". George assigned responsibility for the tweet to "a very passionate campaign volunteer".<ref>{{cite news |title=MP Ruth George 'shocked' by link to Hitler tweet |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-derbyshire-40338402 |work=[[BBC News]] |date=20 June 2017 |accessdate=12 October 2018}}</ref>
In 2017, a 2016 tweet surfaced from @ruthforhighpeak, reading "I enjoyed Theresa May's LABOUR party speech at #CPC16 today. So much better than Mein Fuhrer Amber Rudd yesterday." George's personal Twitter account had stated she also "tweets as @ruthforhighpeak". George assigned responsibility for the tweet to "a very passionate campaign volunteer".<ref>{{cite news |title=MP Ruth George 'shocked' by link to Hitler tweet |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-derbyshire-40338402 |work=[[BBC News]] |date=20 June 2017 |accessdate=12 October 2018}}</ref>


On 19 February, George, who had been asked to comment on a Facebook comment suggesting [[The Independent Group|The Independent Group's]] financial backers were "Israelis", replied 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 Jewish groups said that she was indulging an antisemitic [[conspiracy theory]], she apologised and withdrew her comment.<ref>{{cite news|first=Daniel |last=Sugarman |url=https://www.thejc.com/news/uk-news/labour-mp-ruth-george-suggests-breakaway-mps-financially-backed-by-israel-1.480301 |title=MPs may be 'financially backed' by Israel |work=[[The Jewish Chronicle]] |date=19 February 2019 |accessdate=19 February 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Heffer |first1=Greg |title=Ruth George MP sorry for 'conspiracy theory' that Labour quitters are backed by Israel |url=https://news.sky.com/story/ruth-george-mp-sorry-for-conspiracy-theory-that-labour-quitters-are-backed-by-israel-11642188 |website=[[Sky News]] |accessdate=19 February 2019 |language=en |date=19 February 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Mason |first1=Rowena |title=Labour MP apologises for suggesting Israel funds Independent Group |url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2019/feb/19/labour-mp-ruth-george-israel-funding-independent-group-luciana-berger |work=[[The Guardian]] |accessdate=19 February 2019 |date=19 February 2019}}</ref>
On 19 February, George, who had been asked to comment on a Facebook comment suggesting [[The Independent Group|The Independent Group's]] financial backers were "Israelis", replied 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 Jewish groups said that she was indulging an antisemitic [[conspiracy theory]], she apologised and withdrew her comment.<ref>{{cite news|first=Daniel |last=Sugarman |url=https://www.thejc.com/news/uk-news/labour-mp-ruth-george-suggests-breakaway-mps-financially-backed-by-israel-1.480301 |title=MPs may be 'financially backed' by Israel |work=[[The Jewish Chronicle]] |date=19 February 2019 |accessdate=19 February 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Heffer |first1=Greg |title=Ruth George MP sorry for 'conspiracy theory' that Labour quitters are backed by Israel |url=https://news.sky.com/story/ruth-george-mp-sorry-for-conspiracy-theory-that-labour-quitters-are-backed-by-israel-11642188 |website=[[Sky News]] |accessdate=19 February 2019 |language=en |date=19 February 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Mason |first1=Rowena |title=Labour MP apologises for suggesting Israel funds Independent Group |url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2019/feb/19/labour-mp-ruth-george-israel-funding-independent-group-luciana-berger |work=[[The Guardian]] |accessdate=19 February 2019 |date=19 February 2019}}</ref> The [[Jewish Labour Movement]] subsequently urged George to stop her "extremely disappointing" support for councillor Rachel Abbotts, who had shared [[neo-Nazi]] material, and back her suspension from the party.<ref>https://www.thejc.com/news/uk-news/jlm-demands-action-from-labour-mp-who-continued-to-embrace-member-who-shared-neo-nazi-material-1.484332</ref>


On Wednesday 27 March 2019, her [[Ten Minute Rule]] Bill calling for sky [[sky lantern|lanterns]] to be banned, after some major fires, was passed. She and other MPs will now draw up draft legislation.<ref>{{cite news|first=Allen |last=Cook |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/uk-england-birmingham-47658917?ns_mchannel=social&ns_source=twitter&ns_campaign=bbc_live&ns_linkname=5c9b8d20f86b830666cf8c18%26Move%20to%20ban%20sky%20lanterns%20after%20devastating%20fires%262019-03-27T15%3A10%3A41%2B00%3A00&ns_fee=0&pinned_post_locator=urn:asset:307f07ef-0e0e-4f42-87e0-efd9c0cb6d7b&pinned_post_asset_id=5c9b8d20f86b830666cf8c18&pinned_post_type=share |title=Move to ban sky lanterns after devastating fires |work=[[BBC]] |date=27 March 2019}}</ref>
On Wednesday 27 March 2019, her [[Ten Minute Rule]] Bill calling for sky [[sky lantern|lanterns]] to be banned, after some major fires, was passed. She and other MPs will now draw up draft legislation.<ref>{{cite news|first=Allen |last=Cook |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/uk-england-birmingham-47658917?ns_mchannel=social&ns_source=twitter&ns_campaign=bbc_live&ns_linkname=5c9b8d20f86b830666cf8c18%26Move%20to%20ban%20sky%20lanterns%20after%20devastating%20fires%262019-03-27T15%3A10%3A41%2B00%3A00&ns_fee=0&pinned_post_locator=urn:asset:307f07ef-0e0e-4f42-87e0-efd9c0cb6d7b&pinned_post_asset_id=5c9b8d20f86b830666cf8c18&pinned_post_type=share |title=Move to ban sky lanterns after devastating fires |work=[[BBC]] |date=27 March 2019}}</ref>

Revision as of 15:19, 11 October 2019

Ruth George
MP
Member of Parliament
for High Peak
Incumbent
Assumed office
9 June 2017
Preceded byAndrew Bingham
Majority2,322 (4.3%)
Personal details
Born
Ruth Stephanie Nicole George[1][2]

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

Ruth Stephanie Nicole George[1][2] MP (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]

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. She has lived in the High Peak area for over 25 years, is married with four children and lives in Tunstead Milton near the centre of the constituency.[7][8]

She has been a school governor in Whaley Bridge, and is a committee member for the Whaley Bridge After School Club. She has been involved in local campaigns in the High Peak area; including setting up a pension scheme for the after-school club, and setting up a neighbourhood plan as Vice Chair of Chapel Vision.[9]

Before becoming an MP, George worked at the Central Office of the Union of Shop, Distributive and Allied Workers (USDAW) in Manchester,[2] where she was the parliamentary officer for eighteen years,[10] campaigning on behalf of staff in retail, most notably campaigning on wages and maternity/paternity leave and setting up the ‘Freedom from Fear’ campaign which addresses violence and abuse of staff in shops. Her work as political/parliamentary officer for USDAW involved liaising with parliamentary MPs, and organising USDAW members to contact their MPs on relevant issues,[11] including the campaign opposing a proposal to liberalise Sunday trading, which was defeated by a majority of 31 votes, including 27 Conservative MPs[12] and campaigning against the Trade Union Act which was passed in 2016.[13]

Parliamentary career

George was elected to represent the High Peak[14] in Derbyshire at the 2017 United Kingdom general election.[5] She defeated the incumbent Conservative MP Andrew Bingham with a swing of 7%, becoming the constituency's first female MP.[8]

In October 2018, George became a signatory of the MPs Not Border Guards pledge, which vows to not report constituents to the Home Office for immigration offences.[15]

In the vote of January 2019, George voted against Theresa May's Brexit deal.[16] She also voted for Labour's amendment for Parliament to vote on options which prevent the UK leaving the EU without a deal, including a permanent customs union and a referendum, for Tory MP Dominic Grieve's amendment to force the government to make time for six days of debate on Brexit alternatives before 26 March, for Labour MP Yvette Cooper's amendment to give Parliament time to pass a bill that would postpone Brexit until 31 December if the Prime Minister's deal is not approved by 26 February, for Labour MP Rachel Reeves' amendment for the government to ask the EU to postpone Brexit for an indefinite period, for Tory MP Dame Caroline Spelman's amendment to reject leaving the EU without a deal and against Tory MP Sir Graham Brady's amendment to call for Parliament to require the backstop is replaced with "alternative arrangements to avoid a hard border" with Ireland.

In 2017, a 2016 tweet surfaced from @ruthforhighpeak, reading "I enjoyed Theresa May's LABOUR party speech at #CPC16 today. So much better than Mein Fuhrer Amber Rudd yesterday." George's personal Twitter account had stated she also "tweets as @ruthforhighpeak". George assigned responsibility for the tweet to "a very passionate campaign volunteer".[17]

On 19 February, George, who had been asked to comment on a Facebook comment suggesting The Independent Group's financial backers were "Israelis", replied 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 Jewish groups said that she was indulging an antisemitic conspiracy theory, she apologised and withdrew her comment.[18][19][20] The Jewish Labour Movement subsequently urged George to stop her "extremely disappointing" support for councillor Rachel Abbotts, who had shared neo-Nazi material, and back her suspension from the party.[21]

On Wednesday 27 March 2019, her Ten Minute Rule Bill calling for sky lanterns to be banned, after some major fires, was passed. She and other MPs will now draw up draft legislation.[22]

In September 2019, George addressed a group of Extinction Rebellion campaigners in Buxton, promising to keep their environmental demands at the forefront of her agenda.[23]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f "Ruth George MP". myparliament.info. MyParliament. Archived from the original on 10 August 2017.
  2. ^ a b c George. "George, Ruth Stephanie Nicole". Who's Who. Vol. 2018 (February 2018 online ed.). A & C Black. {{cite encyclopedia}}: Unknown parameter |accessed= ignored (help); Unknown parameter |othernames= ignored (help) (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. ^ a b "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. ^ a b Higgins, Adam (9 June 2017). "High drama in High Peak as Labour take control". Glossop Chronicle. Retrieved 9 June 2017.
  9. ^ "About Ruth". RuthForHighPeak. 21 June 2017. Retrieved 21 June 2017. {{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |dead-url= (help)
  10. ^ "Ruth George Linkedin". LinkedIn. 21 June 2017.
  11. ^ "Ruth George – USDAW Political Officer @ USDAW Conference 2016, Blackpool". audioBoom. 25 April 2016.
  12. ^ "Sunday trading defeat for government as MPs reject changes". BBC News. 9 March 2016. Retrieved 21 June 2017.
  13. ^ "Trade Union Act Becomes Law". Gov.uk. 4 May 2016. Retrieved 21 June 2017.
  14. ^ "Ruth George MP". parliament.uk. Parliament UK.
  15. ^ https://www.globaljustice.org.uk/mps-not-border-guards-pledge-signatories
  16. ^ "Brexit deal: How did your MP vote?". BBC News. 15 January 2019. Retrieved 7 February 2019.
  17. ^ "MP Ruth George 'shocked' by link to Hitler tweet". BBC News. 20 June 2017. Retrieved 12 October 2018.
  18. ^ Sugarman, Daniel (19 February 2019). "MPs may be 'financially backed' by Israel". The Jewish Chronicle. Retrieved 19 February 2019.
  19. ^ 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.
  20. ^ Mason, Rowena (19 February 2019). "Labour MP apologises for suggesting Israel funds Independent Group". The Guardian. Retrieved 19 February 2019.
  21. ^ https://www.thejc.com/news/uk-news/jlm-demands-action-from-labour-mp-who-continued-to-embrace-member-who-shared-neo-nazi-material-1.484332
  22. ^ Cook, Allen (27 March 2019). "Move to ban sky lanterns after devastating fires". BBC.
  23. ^ https://www.buxtonadvertiser.co.uk/news/buxton-shows-solidarity-to-global-climate-strike-1-10009027
Parliament of the United Kingdom
Preceded by Member of Parliament for High Peak
2017–present 		Incumbent

Template:East Midlands Labour Party MPs

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