Geoffrey Norris

Geoffrey Norris is seen as one of the most crucial advocates of nuclear power with an ear to the Prime Minister. He is Blair’s special advisor on energy and industry and has had an association with Labour that goes back to the eighties.

History

From 1992 to November 1994 he advised Robin Cook, MP as Shadow Trade and Industry Secretary and prior to that he advised Cook on Health policy. He then moved to become Industry Policy adviser to Tony Blair when Blair was still leader of the Opposition.

In May 1997, Norris was appointed Blair’s Special Advisor responsible for Trade, Industry, Energy, Employment, and Planning. [1]

He has stayed close to Blair ever since.

Closeness to Blair

Even for Blair’s special advisors, Norris is said to be extremely close to Blair. The closeness has wrangled Prescott who when once asked by the BBC about Norris said: “Who's (Geoffrey) Norris? Mr Norris is an official in the department. We sometimes call them teenyboppers. You know what I mean?" (N. Watt (1998) Prescott Scathing Over Car Criticism, The Times, 4 May)

Pro-Nuclear

Norris is said to be pressing the nuclear case extremely hard and along with the Government's Chief Scientific Advisor, Sir David King, has persuaded Blair to back the need for nuclear.

In March 2005, the Independent on Sunday reported how “Within government, Geoffrey Norris, Tony Blair's special adviser on industry and business, is pressing the nuclear case. It is understood that he was instrumental in the creation of the DTI's Future for Nuclear team.� One Whitehall source told the paper: “Norris has fought hard to keep nuclear on the agenda."

(Clayton Hirst (2005) Secret DTI Team Gives Green Light For 10 New Nuclear Plants, Independent on Sunday, 27 March)