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Strauss, George Russell, Baron

STRAUSS, GEORGE RUSSELL, BARON (1901–1993), British politician. The son of Arthur Strauss (1847–1920), who was a Conservative member of Parliament from 1910 to 1918, George Strauss was educated at Rugby and entered the family firm of tin merchants. He served as a Labour member of Parliament in 1929–31 and 1934–79. He was also a prominent figure in the London County Council, on which he served in 1926–31 and 1932–46. In 1945 he was made parliamentary secretary to the Ministry of Transport. Strauss became minister of supply in 1947, and was responsible for executing the nationalization of the steel industry in 1949. During the 1930s Strauss was on the left of the party, helping to fund the left-wing weekly Tribune. Later he moved to the party's center. In 1968 he helped secure the abolition of theater censorship. From 1974 to 1979 he was the "Father of the House," the longest-serving Member of Parliament. He was made a life peer in 1979.

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Sources: Encyclopaedia Judaica. © 2007 The Gale Group. All Rights Reserved.