George Scott (broadcaster)

George Edwin Scott (22 June 1925 – 2 November 1988), was a British author, television commentator, broadcaster, journalist and Liberal Party politician. He was editor of The Listener for five years.

Background

Scott was born the son of George Benjamin Scott and Florence Hilda Scott. He was educated at Middlesbrough High School and New College, Oxford, from 1946 to 1948. From 1943 to 1946 he served in the Royal Navy Volunteer Reserve. In 1947 he married Shelagh Maud Isobel Maw. They had one daughter, Susan (1949-1983) and two sons, Alexander (1955-2008) and Daniel (1962- ).[1]

Professional career

Scott was a journalist who worked on the Northern Echo (1941–42), Yorkshire Post (1942–43) and the Daily Express (1948–53). He moved to work on the periodical Truth in 1953. He became deputy editor in 1954 and editor from 1954 to 1957, when it ceased publication. In 1956 his auto-biographical work Time and Place was published. He became a television broadcaster, first as a member of the Panorama team (1958–59). He was chairman and interviewer for Television Wales and the West (1959–67). He had spells working at Rediffusion (1966–68) and Tyne-Tees (1970–74). He returned to journalism to work for The Economist from 1970 to 1974. He wrote Rise and Fall of the League of Nations in 1973. He was editor of The Listener from 1974 to 1979. He was presenter of The Editors on the BBC from 1976 to 1979. He was head of the UK Offices of the EEC from 1979 to 1987. He was Special Adviser to the Commission of the European Communities from 1987 to 1988.[2]

Political career

Scott was chairman of the Political Division of the Liberal Party from 1962 to 1963.[3] He was Liberal candidate for the Middlesbrough East division at the 1962 by-election. He was Liberal candidate for the Middlesbrough West division at the 1962 by-election. He was Liberal candidate for the Wimbledon division at the 1964 general election. He was Liberal candidate for the South West Surrey division at the 1983 general election. He did not stand for parliament again.[4]

Electoral record
1962 Middlesbrough East by-election[5][6]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Arthur Bottomley 18,928 60.6 -0.9
Liberal George Scott 7,145 22.9 n/a
Conservative Frederick A. S. Wood 4,613 14.8 -23.7
Union Movement Jeffrey Hamm 550 1.8 n/a
Majority 11,783 37.7 +14.6
Turnout 31,236 52.1 -24.1
Labour hold Swing
1962 Middlesbrough West by-election
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Jeremy Bray 15,095 39.7 +4.2
Conservative Bernard Connelly 12,825 33.7 -21.2
Liberal George Scott 9,829 25.8 +16.2
Independent Russell Ernest Eckley 189 0.5
Independent Malcolm Thompson 117 0.3
Majority 2,270 6.0
Turnout 38,055
Labour gain from Conservative Swing
General Election 1964: Wimbledon
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Cyril Black 15,952 52.0
Labour John R. Daly 8.891 29.0
Liberal George Scott 5,817 19.0
Majority 7,061 23.0
Turnout 74.9
Conservative hold Swing
General Election 1983: South West Surrey
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Maurice Macmillan 31,067 59.7 N/A
Liberal George Scott 16,716 32.1 N/A
Labour Stephen Williams 4,239 8.2 N/A
Majority 14,351 27.6 N/A
Turnout 52,022 74.5 N/A
Conservative win (new seat)

References
  1. ‘SCOTT, George Edwin’, Who Was Who, A & C Black, an imprint of Bloomsbury Publishing plc, 1920–2016; online edn, Oxford University Press, 2014 ; online edn, April 2014 accessed 2 Aug 2017(subscription required)
  2. ‘SCOTT, George Edwin’, Who Was Who, A & C Black, an imprint of Bloomsbury Publishing plc, 1920–2016; online edn, Oxford University Press, 2014 ; online edn, April 2014 accessed 2 Aug 2017(subscription required)
  3. The Times House of Commons 1964
  4. British Parliamentary Election Results 1950-1987, FWS Craig
  5. The Times House of Commons, 1964
  6. "1962 By Election Results". Archived from the original on 5 February 2012. Retrieved 15 August 2015.
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