Thomas Docherty
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This article is part of the Nuclear Spin project of Spinwatch. |
Thomas Docherty is a former communications consultant, who became the Labour Party Member of Parliament (MP) for Dunfermline and West Fife at the May 2010 general UK elections.[1] He had previously worked for Network Rail, BNFL and as a research assistant to Scott Barrie, the former MSP for Dunfermline West. [2]
He is PPS to Angela Eagle MP, Shadow Leader of the House.[2]
Contents
Previously on shortlist for Sellafield constituency
In early 2005, Docherty was part of an "all-PR" shortlist to become Labour candidate for the constituency of Copeland, which includes BNFL's Sellafield plant. The constituency was previously held by Jack Cunningham, a longstanding advocate of nuclear power. The other people on the shortlist were:
- Jamie Reed, at the time a BNFL press officer
- Stuart Bruce of Bruce Marshall Associates and
- Tim Walker, a Bell Pottinger board director and former special adviser to Cunningham.[3]
Reed was selected, and held the seat for Labour. Reporting the story shortly after the election, PR Week wryly observed: "What this can mean for the re-elected Labour government's commitment to pump billions into a raft of new nuclear power stations, we couldn't possibly say."[4]
However another of the PR men on the shortlist, Stuart Bruce, seemed quite clear about the significance of Reed's electoral success. A few days after the election, he wrote: "One of the challenges facing Jamie will be to help push the government into an essential replacement programme for our nuclear power stations. Good luck."[5]
Civil nuclear industry Scottish Cross-Party Group role
Docherty used to represent the UKAEA on the Scottish Parliament's Civil Nuclear Industry CPG, according to the CPG's website.[6] After the Scottish Sunday Herald started researching the links between the CPG and lobbyists, Docherty's name was removed from the site.[7][8]
Meeting with Defence Minister on Rosyth
In July 2013 Docherty secured a meeting with Philip Dunne MP, the MoD Minister for Defence Equipment on the future of the seven nuclear submarines currently based at Rosyth. This followed an intervention during a Westminster Hall debate on 10 July. Docherty explained that:
- This meeting is part of dialogue that is taking place between all the stakeholders; the local community, Babcock, the MoD and myself to make sure that the right decisions are taken, driven by the safety case. I hope that the MoD will be able to update me on their progress so that the safest method of dismantling the submarines can take place.[9]
Docherty MP said:
Affiliations
- Member of the Defence Select Committee, the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Select Committee and the Administration Select Committee.
- Vice Chair of the All Party Parliamentary Group for Bahrain
- Treasurer of the All Party Parliamentary Group for Clean Coal
- All Party Parliamentary Group on Unconventional Oil and Gas, set up February 2013
References
- ↑ Thomas Docherty MP, Labour website, accessed 2 September 2012
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Biography, Thomas Docherty MP], Labour website, accessed 2 September 2012
- ↑ PR Week, "Labour Candidate Emerges, and Wins", May 20, 2005; the full article can only be acccessed with a subscription
- ↑ Ibid.
- ↑ Stuart Bruce's then website
- ↑ Civil Nuclear Industry Scottish CPC Website, cached on Sourcewatch website.
- ↑ Paul Hutcheon, "Sleaze Probe into Nuclear Lobbying at Holyrood", Sunday Herald, January 22, 2006
- ↑ Civil Nuclear Industry CPG website.
- ↑ Rosyth MP secures subs meeting, Thomas Docherty MP website, acc 29 October 2013
