Michael James German, Baron German, OBE (born 8 May 1945) is a British politician, serving currently as a member of the House of Lords and formerly as a member of the National Assembly for Wales for the South Wales East region. He was leader of the Welsh Liberal Democrats from 2007 to 2008. In 1996, he was awarded an OBE for his public and political service.
His political career spans over three decades. He was elected as councillor on Cardiff City Council (Cathays ward) in 1983, together with his wife, Georgette German (Plasnewydd).[1] He was Leader of the Welsh Liberal Democrats on the City Council between 1983 and 1996 and joint leader of the Council from 1987 to 1991; he was elected to the National Assembly for Wales in 1999 and re-elected in 2003 and 2007.
Under a Labour-Liberal Democrat coalition he became Deputy First Minister 2000-01 (and Economic Development Secretary)[4] and again in 2002-03 (and Minister for Rural Affairs and Wales Abroad). He stepped down from the role of Deputy First Minister between the two dates to answer allegations made about his role at the Welsh examination board, the WJEC. During this period he was temporarily replaced by Jenny Randerson as Acting Deputy First Minister.
In November 2007, Mike German became leader of the Welsh Liberal Democrats, after Lembit Opik stood down to ensure that the leadership of the party was in the National Assembly and not Westminster. He was succeeded in 2008 by Kirsty Williams.
In summer 2021, it was proposed by the Second Johnson ministry to mandate that care home staff be required as a condition of employment to maintain COVID-19 vaccination status, as part of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 (Regulated Activities) (Amendment) (Coronavirus) Regulations 2021. The members of the Secondary Legislation Scrutiny Committee, amongst whom was German, raised concerns about this proposal. German said at the time that "we have consistently made clear our view that all key definitions and criteria on which decisions that might affect a person's welfare or livelihood will be made, should be included in legislation and not in guidance which cannot be subjected to appropriate Parliamentary scrutiny or approval."[9]
Referencesedit
^ abMichael Thomas (6 May 1983). "Cardiff could go 'private'". South Wales Echo. p. 6.
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Mike German redirects here For the FBI agent see Michael German This biography of a living person needs additional citations for verification Please help by adding reliable sources Contentious material about living persons that is unsourced or poorly sourced must be removed immediately from the article and its talk page especially if potentially libelous Find sources Mike German Baron German news newspapers books scholar JSTOR March 2008 Learn how and when to remove this template message Michael James German Baron German OBE born 8 May 1945 is a British politician serving currently as a member of the House of Lords and formerly as a member of the National Assembly for Wales for the South Wales East region He was leader of the Welsh Liberal Democrats from 2007 to 2008 In 1996 he was awarded an OBE for his public and political service The Right HonourableThe Lord GermanOBEOfficial portrait 2022Deputy First Minister of WalesIn office 13 June 2002 8 May 2003First MinisterRhodri MorganPreceded byJenny Randerson Acting Succeeded byIeuan Wyn Jones 2007 In office 16 October 2000 6 July 2001First MinisterRhodri MorganPreceded byPosition establishedSucceeded byJenny Randerson Acting Leader of the Welsh Liberal DemocratsIn office 13 October 2007 8 December 2008LeaderMenzies Campbell Sir Vince Cable Nick CleggPreceded byLembit OpikSucceeded byKirsty WilliamsMember of the Welsh Assemblyfor South Wales EastIn office 6 May 1999 30 June 2010Preceded byNew AssemblySucceeded byVeronica GermanMember of the House of LordsLord TemporalIncumbentAssumed office 29 June 2010Life PeeragePersonal detailsBorn 1945 05 08 8 May 1945 age 78 Cardiff WalesPolitical partyLiberal DemocratsSpouse s 1 Georgette German 1 2 Veronica GermanAlma materOpen University Contents 1 Biography 2 Political career 2 1 In the House of Lords 3 References 4 External links 5 Offices heldBiography editGerman was educated at the Open University and St Mary s College In his early life he was a member of 28th Cardiff Sea Scout Group He trained and worked as a music teacher before becoming Head of the European Unit at the Welsh Joint Education Committee Has also been a school governor Political career editHis political career spans over three decades He was elected as councillor on Cardiff City Council Cathays ward in 1983 together with his wife Georgette German Plasnewydd 1 He was Leader of the Welsh Liberal Democrats on the City Council between 1983 and 1996 and joint leader of the Council from 1987 to 1991 he was elected to the National Assembly for Wales in 1999 and re elected in 2003 and 2007 In the 1996 New Year Honours he was appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire for political and public service 2 He contested Cardiff North in October 1974 and 1979 for the Liberals before fighting Cardiff Central in 1983 and 1987 for the SDP Liberal Alliance but was unsuccessful on each occasion In the first Welsh Assembly election in 1999 he contested the Caerphilly constituency coming third with 12 4 of the vote He was however elected at the same election for the South Wales East regional seat 3 Under a Labour Liberal Democrat coalition he became Deputy First Minister 2000 01 and Economic Development Secretary 4 and again in 2002 03 and Minister for Rural Affairs and Wales Abroad He stepped down from the role of Deputy First Minister between the two dates to answer allegations made about his role at the Welsh examination board the WJEC During this period he was temporarily replaced by Jenny Randerson as Acting Deputy First Minister In November 2007 Mike German became leader of the Welsh Liberal Democrats after Lembit Opik stood down to ensure that the leadership of the party was in the National Assembly and not Westminster He was succeeded in 2008 by Kirsty Williams German s political interests include skills development in small and large companies in Wales constitutional affairs local government economy and regeneration In May 2010 German was named to the House of Lords as a working peer in the 2010 Dissolution Honours list 5 He was succeeded to the Assembly in June 2010 by his wife Veronica a Torfaen councillor as she was the next candidate on the regional party list in 2007 6 7 German took his seat as Baron German of Llanfrechfa in the County Borough of Torfaen 8 In the House of Lords edit In summer 2021 it was proposed by the Second Johnson ministry to mandate that care home staff be required as a condition of employment to maintain COVID 19 vaccination status as part of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 Regulated Activities Amendment Coronavirus Regulations 2021 The members of the Secondary Legislation Scrutiny Committee amongst whom was German raised concerns about this proposal German said at the time that we have consistently made clear our view that all key definitions and criteria on which decisions that might affect a person s welfare or livelihood will be made should be included in legislation and not in guidance which cannot be subjected to appropriate Parliamentary scrutiny or approval 9 References edit a b Michael Thomas 6 May 1983 Cardiff could go private South Wales Echo p 6 No 54255 The London Gazette Supplement 30 December 1995 p 11 National Assembly for Wales Elections Regional 1999 Thursday 6 May 1999 Senedd Cymru Retrieved 14 October 2022 Welsh Lib Dems join assembly cabinet news bbc co uk 16 October 2000 Dissolution list BBC News 28 May 2010 Retrieved 28 May 2010 Mike German made working peer in House of Lords BBC Wales 28 May 2010 Retrieved 28 May 2010 Ex Gwent AM becomes a lord South Wales Argus 30 June 2010 Retrieved 7 January 2010 No 59474 The London Gazette 29 June 2010 p 12259 Lords summon Minister to address concerns about proposed vaccination of care home staff as a condition of employment UK Parliament 12 July 2021 External links editMichael German AM website Michael German AM official biography at the National Assembly for Wales website Welsh Liberal Democrats website Official biography at House of LordsOffices held editSeneddNew constituency Assembly Member for South Wales East1999 2010 Succeeded byVeronica GermanPolitical officesNew post Leader of the Liberal Democrats in the National Assembly1999 2008 Succeeded byKirsty WilliamsPreceded byLembit Opik Leader of the Welsh Liberal Democrats2007 2008 Succeeded byKirsty WilliamsNew post Deputy First Minister for Wales2000 2001 Succeeded byJenny Randerson Acting Preceded byRhodri Morgan Minister for Economic Development2000 2001 Succeeded byRhodri MorganPreceded byJenny Randerson Acting Deputy First Minister for Wales2002 2003 VacantTitle last held byIeuan Wyn Jones 2007 2011 New post Minister for Rural Affairs and Wales Abroad2002 2003 post abolishedOrders of precedence in the United KingdomPreceded byThe Lord Gardiner of Kimble GentlemenBaron German Followed byThe Lord Hutton of Furness Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Mike German Baron German amp oldid 1183635463, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
