- Mike German, Baron German
-
The Right Honourable
The Lord German
OBEDeputy First Minister for Wales In office
13 June 2002 – 8 May 2003First Minister Rhodri Morgan Preceded by Jenny Randerson (acting) Succeeded by Ieuan Wyn Jones In office
16 October 2000 – 6 July 2001First Minister Rhodri Morgan Preceded by New Post Succeeded by Jenny Randerson (acting) Member of the Welsh Assembly
for South Wales EastIn office
6 May 1999 – 30 June 2010Preceded by New Assembly Succeeded by Veronica German Personal details Born 8 May 1945
Cardiff, WalesPolitical party Liberal Democrats Alma mater Open University Michael James German, Baron German, OBE (born 8 May 1945), usually known as Mike German, is a member of the House of Lords and former member of the National Assembly for Wales for the South Wales East Region. He was leader of the Welsh Liberal Democrats from 2007–08. In 1996, he was awarded the OBE for his public and political service.
Contents
Biography
German 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
His political career spans over three decades, as councillor and Leader of the Welsh Liberal Democrats on Cardiff City Council between 1983–1996 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.
He contested Cardiff Central in 1983 and 1987 for the Liberal/SDP Alliance, coming within 3,452 votes of winning the seat in the former year.
Under a Labour-Liberal Democrat coalition he became Deputy First Minister 2000-01 (and Minister for Economic Development) 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 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 Dissolution Honours list.[1] 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.[2][3] German took his seat as Baron German, of Llanfrechfa in the County Borough of Torfaen.
References
- ^ "Dissolution list". BBC News. 2010-05-28. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk/10187659.stm. Retrieved 2010-05-28.
- ^ "Mike German made working peer in House of Lords". BBC Wales. 2010-05-28. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/wales/south_east_wales/10187031.stm. Retrieved 2010-05-28.
- ^ "Ex-Gwent AM becomes a lord". South Wales Argus. 2010-06-30. http://www.southwalesargus.co.uk/news/gwentnews/8247449.Ex_Gwent_AM_becomes_a_lord/. Retrieved 2010-01-07.
External links
- Michael German AM website
- Michael German AM official biography at the National Assembly for Wales website
- Welsh Liberal Democrats website
- Official biography at House of Lords
Offices held
National Assembly for Wales Preceded by
(new post)Assembly Member for South Wales East
1999 – 2010Succeeded by
Veronica GermanPolitical offices Preceded by
(new post)Leader of the Liberal Democrats in the National Assembly
1999 – 2008Succeeded by
Kirsty WilliamsPreceded by
Lembit OpikLeader of the Welsh Liberal Democrats
2007 – 2008Succeeded by
Kirsty WilliamsPreceded by
(new post)Deputy First Minister for Wales
2000 – 2001Succeeded by
Office VacantPreceded by
Rhodri MorganMinister for Economic Development
2000 – 2001Succeeded by
Rhodri MorganPreceded by
Office VacantDeputy First Minister for Wales
2002 – 2003Succeeded by
Office Vacant
(2003-2007)
Ieuan Wyn Jones (2007-present)Preceded by
(new post)Minister for Rural Affairs and Wales Abroad
2002 – 2003Succeeded by
(post abolished)Re-Elected First Minister: Rhodri Morgan (Labour) Rhodri Morgan (Labour) · Ieuan Wyn Jones (Plaid Cymru) · Nick Bourne (Conservative) · Mike German (Liberal Democrats)Categories:- 1945 births
- Living people
- Liberal Democrat Members of the National Assembly for Wales
- Wales AMs 1999–2003
- Wales AMs 2003–2007
- Wales AMs 2007–2011
- Leaders of political parties in Wales
- Officers of the Order of the British Empire
- Councillors in Wales
- Alumni of the Open University
- Members of the Welsh Assembly Government
- Liberal Democrat life peers
Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.