George Strauss was born in London, 18 July 1901, the son of Arthur Strauss and Minna Cohen. He was educated at Rugby School. He married Patricia O'Flynn in 1932 (died 1987), with whom he had two sons and one daughter, and Benita Armstrong in 1987.

He joined the family firm of metal merchants, A. Strauss and Co. Ltd, in the City of London, 1920. He represented North Lambeth, 1925-31, and South East Southwark, 1932-46, on the London County Council. He was Labour Member of Parliament for Lambeth North, 1929-31, 1934-50, and Lambeth, Vauxhall, 1950-79. He was a founder and financial backer of the left-wing weekly newspaper "Tribune", established in 1936. He visited Spain during the Spanish Civil War, 1938-9, and was briefly expelled from the Labour Party, 1939, for his involvement in the anti-Fascist Popular Front Campaign. He held the following posts: Parliamentary Private Secretary to the Minister of Transport, 1929-31, and to the Lord Privy Seal, later the Minister of Aircraft Production, 1942-5; Parliamentary Secretary at the Ministry of Transport, 1945-7; and Minister of Supply, 1947-51, responsible for the nationalisation of the iron and steel industries. He introduced a Bill abolishing theatre censorship, 1968, and was Father of the House of Commons, 1974-9. He died on 5 June 1993.

He was created a life peer, as Lord Strauss of Vauxhall, 1979.