Geoffrey Finsberg
Encyclopedia
Geoffrey Finsberg, Baron Finsberg, MBE
, JP
(13 June 1926—8 October 1996) was a British
Conservative
politician.
Finsberg was educated at the City of London School
and was a 'Bevin Boy' 1945-47. From a young age he was active in the Conservative Party and was founder chairman of Mansfield
Young Conservatives 1946-47. He served as National Chairman of the Young Conservatives, 1954-57 and took senior rules in the National Union of Conservative and Unionist Associations
, 1953-79 and the Greater London Area of the National Union of Conservative and Unionist Associations. He was Vice-Chairman, Conservative Party Organisation, 1975-79 and 1983-87;
Finsberg was elected a Borough Councillor in Hampstead
in 1949 at just 22 years old, until 1965, and on the new London Borough of Camden
1964-74, serving as Leader, 1968-70. He was Deputy Chairman, 1969-1971, and Vice-President of the Association of Municipal Corporations, 1971-74. He stood for Parliament in Islington East
in 1955 without success.
In 1970, Finsberg was elected Member of Parliament
for Hampstead
, serving 1970 to 1983, then for Hampstead and Highgate 1983 to 1992. He acted as Opposition spokesman on Greater London
, 1974-79; Parliamentary Under Secretary of State, Department of the Environment
, 1979-81, and Department of Health and Social Security
, 1981-83. He was President of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe
from 1991 to 1992.
Finsberg was also active in business and charities: he was Controller of Personnel and Chief Industrial Relations Adviser at Great Universal Stores, 1968-79; Member, 1983-1986, and Deputy Chairman, South East Regional Board, TSB
, 1986-89; Member, Post Office
Users National Council, 1970-77; Member of the Council, Confederation of British Industry
, 1968-79. He was Joint National Treasurer, 1993-1995, and Joint National Honorary Secretary, Council of Christians and Jews; Patron, Maccabi
Association of Great Britain; Trustee, Marie Curie Cancer Foundation
; a JP
for Inner London from 1962.
He retired from Parliament at the 1992 general election
, at which his seat was taken by Labour
's Glenda Jackson
, defeating Oliver Letwin
. He was created a life peer
in 1992 as Baron Finsberg, of Hampstead in the London Borough of Camden
.
Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
, JP
Justice of the Peace
A justice of the peace is a puisne judicial officer elected or appointed by means of a commission to keep the peace. Depending on the jurisdiction, they might dispense summary justice or merely deal with local administrative applications in common law jurisdictions...
(13 June 1926—8 October 1996) was a British
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
Conservative
Conservative Party (UK)
The Conservative Party, formally the Conservative and Unionist Party, is a centre-right political party in the United Kingdom that adheres to the philosophies of conservatism and British unionism. It is the largest political party in the UK, and is currently the largest single party in the House...
politician.
Finsberg was educated at the City of London School
City of London School
The City of London School is a boys' independent day school on the banks of the River Thames in the City of London, England. It is the brother school of the City of London School for Girls and the co-educational City of London Freemen's School...
and was a 'Bevin Boy' 1945-47. From a young age he was active in the Conservative Party and was founder chairman of Mansfield
Mansfield
Mansfield is a town in Nottinghamshire, England. It is the main town in the Mansfield local government district. Mansfield is a part of the Mansfield Urban Area....
Young Conservatives 1946-47. He served as National Chairman of the Young Conservatives, 1954-57 and took senior rules in the National Union of Conservative and Unionist Associations
National Union of Conservative and Unionist Associations
The National Union of Conservative and Unionist Associations was a federation of the voluntary wing of the Conservative Party in the United Kingdom....
, 1953-79 and the Greater London Area of the National Union of Conservative and Unionist Associations. He was Vice-Chairman, Conservative Party Organisation, 1975-79 and 1983-87;
Finsberg was elected a Borough Councillor in Hampstead
Metropolitan Borough of Hampstead
The Metropolitan Borough of Hampstead was a Metropolitan borough of the County of London from 1900 to 1965, when it was amalgamated with the Metropolitan Borough of St Pancras and the Metropolitan Borough of Holborn to form the London Borough of Camden....
in 1949 at just 22 years old, until 1965, and on the new London Borough of Camden
London Borough of Camden
In 1801, the civil parishes that form the modern borough were already developed and had a total population of 96,795. This continued to rise swiftly throughout the 19th century, as the district became built up; reaching 270,197 in the middle of the century...
1964-74, serving as Leader, 1968-70. He was Deputy Chairman, 1969-1971, and Vice-President of the Association of Municipal Corporations, 1971-74. He stood for Parliament in Islington East
Islington East (UK Parliament constituency)
Islington East was a constituency which returned one Member of Parliament to the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom from 1885, until it was abolished for the February 1974 general election.-1885–1918:...
in 1955 without success.
In 1970, Finsberg was elected Member of Parliament
Member of Parliament
A Member of Parliament is a representative of the voters to a :parliament. In many countries with bicameral parliaments, the term applies specifically to members of the lower house, as upper houses often have a different title, such as senate, and thus also have different titles for its members,...
for Hampstead
Hampstead (UK Parliament constituency)
Hampstead was a borough constituency, centered on the Hampstead area of North London. It returned one Member of Parliament to the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom, who was elected using the first-past-the-post voting system....
, serving 1970 to 1983, then for Hampstead and Highgate 1983 to 1992. He acted as Opposition spokesman on Greater London
Greater London
Greater London is the top-level administrative division of England covering London. It was created in 1965 and spans the City of London, including Middle Temple and Inner Temple, and the 32 London boroughs. This territory is coterminate with the London Government Office Region and the London...
, 1974-79; Parliamentary Under Secretary of State, Department of the Environment
Secretary of State for the Environment
The Secretary of State for the Environment was a UK cabinet position, responsible for the Department of the Environment . This was created by Edward Heath as a combination of the Ministry of Housing and Local Government, the Ministry of Transport and the Ministry of Public Building and Works on 15...
, 1979-81, and Department of Health and Social Security
Department of Health and Social Security
The Department of Health and Social Security was a ministry of the British government in existence for twenty years from 1968 until 1988, and was headed by the Secretary of State for Social Services.-History:...
, 1981-83. He was President of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe
Council of Europe
The Council of Europe is an international organisation promoting co-operation between all countries of Europe in the areas of legal standards, human rights, democratic development, the rule of law and cultural co-operation...
from 1991 to 1992.
Finsberg was also active in business and charities: he was Controller of Personnel and Chief Industrial Relations Adviser at Great Universal Stores, 1968-79; Member, 1983-1986, and Deputy Chairman, South East Regional Board, TSB
TSB
TSB may refer to:* TSB Bank, formerly the Taranaki Savings Bank, a New Zealand-owned bank.* Technical Service Bulletin, a recommended procedure for repairing a vehicle...
, 1986-89; Member, Post Office
Post office
A post office is a facility forming part of a postal system for the posting, receipt, sorting, handling, transmission or delivery of mail.Post offices offer mail-related services such as post office boxes, postage and packaging supplies...
Users National Council, 1970-77; Member of the Council, Confederation of British Industry
Confederation of British Industry
The Confederation of British Industry is a British not for profit organisation incorporated by Royal charter which promotes the interests of its members, some 200,000 British businesses, a figure which includes some 80% of FTSE 100 companies and around 50% of FTSE 350 companies.-Role:The CBI works...
, 1968-79. He was Joint National Treasurer, 1993-1995, and Joint National Honorary Secretary, Council of Christians and Jews; Patron, Maccabi
Maccabi (sports)
Maccabi may refer to:* The Maccabi World Union, Maccabiah Games or any one of the following sport organizations around the world:...
Association of Great Britain; Trustee, Marie Curie Cancer Foundation
Marie Curie Cancer Care
Marie Curie Cancer Care is a charitable organisation in the United Kingdom which provides nursing care, free of charge, to terminally ill people, giving them the chance to choose to be cared for at home...
; a JP
Justice of the Peace
A justice of the peace is a puisne judicial officer elected or appointed by means of a commission to keep the peace. Depending on the jurisdiction, they might dispense summary justice or merely deal with local administrative applications in common law jurisdictions...
for Inner London from 1962.
He retired from Parliament at the 1992 general election
United Kingdom general election, 1992
The United Kingdom general election of 1992 was held on 9 April 1992, and was the fourth consecutive victory for the Conservative Party. This election result was one of the biggest surprises in 20th Century politics, as polling leading up to the day of the election showed Labour under leader Neil...
, at which his seat was taken by Labour
Labour Party (UK)
The Labour Party is a centre-left democratic socialist party in the United Kingdom. It surpassed the Liberal Party in general elections during the early 1920s, forming minority governments under Ramsay MacDonald in 1924 and 1929-1931. The party was in a wartime coalition from 1940 to 1945, after...
's Glenda Jackson
Glenda Jackson
Glenda May Jackson, CBE is a British Labour Party politician and former actress. She has been a Member of Parliament since 1992, and currently represents Hampstead and Kilburn. She previously served as MP for Hampstead and Highgate...
, defeating Oliver Letwin
Oliver Letwin
Oliver Letwin MP FRSA is a British politician. A member of the Conservative Party, he is currently the Minister of State at the Cabinet Office, and a Member of Parliament representing the constituency of West Dorset...
. He was created a life peer
Life peer
In the United Kingdom, life peers are appointed members of the Peerage whose titles cannot be inherited. Nowadays life peerages, always of baronial rank, are created under the Life Peerages Act 1958 and entitle the holders to seats in the House of Lords, presuming they meet qualifications such as...
in 1992 as Baron Finsberg, of Hampstead in the London Borough of Camden
London Borough of Camden
In 1801, the civil parishes that form the modern borough were already developed and had a total population of 96,795. This continued to rise swiftly throughout the 19th century, as the district became built up; reaching 270,197 in the middle of the century...
.
External links
- Catalogue of the Finsberg papers at the Archives Division of the London School of EconomicsLondon School of EconomicsThe London School of Economics and Political Science is a public research university specialised in the social sciences located in London, United Kingdom, and a constituent college of the federal University of London...
.