Russell George is the Member of the Welsh Parliament for Montgomeryshire and has represented the constituency since 2011. Russell is the Shadow Minister for Health, and also chairs the Welsh Parliament's Health and Social Care committee.
Russell was born in Welshpool in 1974. He attended school in Montgomeryshire, and obtained a degree in Information and Media Studies from the University of Central England. Russell was elected to Powys County Council in 2008 and was a member of the Council’s executive management board.
Russell was first elected to the then National Assembly for Wales in 2011. He was returned in 2016 and 2021, increasing his majority at each election.
He has held a number of portfolios and has previously spoken for the Welsh Conservatives on Environment and Sustainable Development, Agriculture and Rural Affairs and on the Economy, Business and Infrastructure
Between 2013 – 2016, Russell set up and chaired the Assembly’s Cross Party Group on Digital Communications which campaigned for improvements in the availability of superfast broadband and mobile coverage in Wales.
His current priorities are to retain and improve local public services for the people of Montgomeryshire. Russell feels passionate about encouraging younger people to get involved in public life, and is keen to support and encourage new business start-ups and small business growth.
Russell was heavily involved in promoting the Newtown bypass and campaigning for improved broadband in rural areas of Wales. He was also involved in lobbying for a Mid Wales Growth deal for the region, as well as for a new Community hospital and health facility to serve North Powys.
His personal interests include Genealogy, and is the current President of the Montgomeryshire Area Scout Council and the Deputy President of the Montgomeryshire MND Association. He is also Vice President of the Montgomery Waterway Restoration Trust, a member of Montgomeryshire Wildlife Trust, a member of Hope Church in Newtown and as such, he has been involved in many projects that support the community.
Before being elected to the Senedd, Russell was a Town Councillor, School Governor, on the Board of Coleg Powys, and was a member of the Theatre Hafren Management Committee.