Geoffrey Finsberg

Who was Geoffrey Finsberg?

Geoffrey Finsberg, Baron Finsberg, Kt., MBE, JP 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. He was appointed a Member of the Order of the British Empire in the 1959 New Year's Honours.

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. He was Knighted on 14 February 1984.