[1] In 1977 he won an apology and a settlement for damages and costs from then-Broadcasting Minister Tupui Henry over allegations that he and another man were "agitators" and "disturbing elements in a public place".
[4] Following the victory of Tom Davis in the November 1983 election he was appointed to Cabinet as Minister of Foreign Affairs, Corrective Services, and the Crown Law Office.
[9] He retained the position when Henry resigned in favour of Joe Williams,[10] but was sacked in October 1999 after he defected to the opposition.
[12][13] As Deputy Prime Minister, George made controversial statements that businessmen were involved in drug-smuggling,[14] proposed removing customary land-rights from expatriate Cook Islanders,[15] and demanded that newspapers be licensed.
[17] Initially the coalition remained intact,[18] but by December 2001 George reportedly planned to put forward a motion of no confidence in Maoate.
[20] While Geoffrey Henry became Deputy Prime Minister, George was rewarded with a long list of Ministerial portfolios, including Justice, Attorney-General, Energy, Environment, and Outer Islands Development.
[23] A series of scandals over conflicts of interest,[24] the apparent sale of a residency permit to New Zealand developer Mark Lyon,[25] and a court case over "double dipping"[26] saw George decline in popularity.
In April 2015 he contested the leadership of the Democratic Party after the departure of Wilkie Rasmussen,[37] but lost to William (Smiley) Heather.
[39] George stood for the seat of Tengatangi–Areora–Ngatiarua at the 2018 election for the Alternative Must Ravenga Openga party on a platform of making Atiu great again.