Tom Greatrex | |
|---|---|
 Greatrex in 2010 | |
| Shadow Minister for Energy | |
| In office 7 October 2011 – 8 May 2015 | |
| Leader | Ed Miliband |
| Preceded by | Huw Irranca-Davies |
| Succeeded by | Barry Gardiner |
| Shadow Minister for Scotland | |
| In office 8 October 2010 – 7 October 2011 | |
| Leader | Ed Miliband |
| Preceded by | Ann McKechin |
| Succeeded by | Willie Bain |
| Member of Parliament forRutherglen and Hamilton West | |
| In office 6 May 2010 – 30 March 2015 | |
| Preceded by | Tommy McAvoy |
| Succeeded by | Margaret Ferrier |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Thomas James Greatrex (1974-09-30)30 September 1974 (age 50) Ashford, Kent, England[1] |
| Political party | Labour Co-op |
| Spouse | Laura Orrock |
| Children | 2 |
| Alma mater | London School of Economics |
| Website | tomgreatrex.org |
Thomas James Greatrex[2] (born 30 September 1974) is a BritishLabour Co-op politician, who was the Member of Parliament (MP) forRutherglen and Hamilton West between2010[3] and2015 and the Shadow Energy Minister from 2011 to 2015.
In 2016 Greatrex became the CEO of theNuclear Industry Association.
Greatrex was born inAshford,Kent. Brought up inTunbridge Wells, he attendedThe Judd School between 1986 and 1993, before studying Economics, Government and Law at theLondon School of Economics, graduating in 1996.
He lives inCambuslang and is married, with twin daughters.[1]
Greatrex worked as a researcher to Opposition Chief WhipDonald Dewar, prior to the1997 General Election, remaining in the role afterNick Brown took over asChief Whip, later moving with him to theMinistry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food in 1998. He left this role in 1999 to work as aGMB Union official for five years. He moved to Scotland in 2004 to take on a role as a chief officer atEast Dunbartonshire Council[4] then worked as Director of Corporate Affairs forNHS 24 between 2006 and 2007. He latterly worked as a policy adviser forScottish SecretariesDouglas Alexander,Des Browne andJim Murphy.[5]
Since 1 February 2016 Greatrex has been CEO of theNuclear Industry Association.[6] He is currently vice-chairman of the Football Supporters Association.[7]
Selected as theScottish Labour Party candidate forRutherglen and Hamilton West, Greatrex was elected with a majority of 21,002 at the2010 United Kingdom general election.[3]
He was the ShadowUnder-Secretary of State for Scotland supportingAnn McKechin, Shadow Secretary State for Scotland until October 2011, when he was made Shadow Energy Minister.
As Shadow Energy Minister, Greatrex has criticised both sides of the debate overfracking, arguing that an "evidence-based" approach is needed and that whilst shale gas will not solve energy shortages in future, there might be some role for fracking under "strict regulation".[8][9]
He lost his Westminster seat toMargaret Ferrier of theScottish National Party at the2015 general election, she was elected with a majority of 9,975 votes.[10]
Greatrex is a fierce and outspoken critic of the firmAtos, who conductWork Capability Assessments ofdisabled people on behalf of theDepartment for Work and Pensions. On 17 May 2013, he gave an interview to theBBC about allegations made by a doctor employed by Atos that the tests are unfair and 'skewed against the claimant'.[11] In addition, he wrote in a letter to the Prime Minister that these were "serious and shocking allegations which must be urgently looked at".[12]
| Parliament of the United Kingdom | ||
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| Preceded by | Member of Parliament forRutherglen & Hamilton West 2010–2015 | Succeeded by |
| International | |
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| National | |
| People | |
| Other | |
