George Freeman first re-elected as Conservative MP for Mid Norfolk in 2010, being reelected in 2019 with a majority of 22,594.
The Mid Norfolk is a large rural constituency in the centre of Norfolk to the west of Norwich. The largest towns are Dereham and Wymondham. Agriculture plays an important part in the local economy. This constituency has supported the Conservatives ever since it was first created in 1983.
Freeman is the Minister of State in the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology, having been appointed as Science Minister in October 2022. He had been a backer of Penny Mordaunt in the October 2022 conservative leadership election, but changed allegiance and called on Ms Mordaunt to step down on the day on which nominations closed. With Ms Mordaunt close to the 100 nominations that she needed, Mr Freeman’s intervention was seen as significant.
Previously Mr Freeman had a ministerial careeer as Parliamentary Under Secretary of State, Minister for Science, Research and Innovation in September 2021. He resigned in July 2022 in protest at Boris Johnson continuing to remain as prime minister.
He formerly served as a Minister of State at the Department of Transport (2019-2020), and Under Secretary of State for Life Sciences (2014-16).
Born in 1967, George Freeman grew up near Newmarket. His father was the jump jockey, Arthur Freeman, who won the 1958 Grand National. Freeman has described how he had no contact with his father until reaching adulthood. His parents divorced soon after he was born, and he grew up as a ward of court.
Freeman is related to the 19th-century Prime Minister William Ewart Gladstone, who is said to be his great-great-great-uncle.
After attending Cambridge University, Freeman spent five years in Westminster as Parliamentary Officer of the National Farmers Union. Freeman later worked in venture capital, serving as Director of Early Stage Ventures, Merlin Biosciences, and then as Chief Executive of Amedis Pharma. He later ran his own small business (4d Biomedical) helping hospital clinicians to develop, commercialise and finance new medical technologies.
George Freeman is Chair of the All Party Parliamentary Group on Inclusive Growth; and an Officer of All Party Parliamentary Group on Children of Alcoholics. He has previously spoken about his own experiences as a child career of his then alcoholic mother.
In his youth, Freeman undertook a 3,000 mile hitch hike from Northern Kenya to Cape Town in South Africa.
Freeman supported Remain in the 2016 EU referendum. He backed Matt Hancock in the 2019 Conservative Party leadership election.
Email: george.freeman.mp@parliament.uk
Personal Website: www.georgefreeman.co.uk
Twitter: @Freeman_George
Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/GeorgeFreemanMidNorfolk
