Miliband and Brown Have Family and Partner Interests in Nuclear Energy

Gordon Brown and his cohorts persist in criticising the Conservatives for being Eton educated and from wealthly privilge but it seems fine to use patronage and family ties to help the French and German owned nuclear companies get what they want..... Nice one Gordon and Ed...Any chance helping your electorate out?...I Dont think so!!!

I recommend that people read Zac Goldsmiths--The Constant Economy ----- He may have had a privliged upbringing but he is committed to making the world a better place.



The Energy Secretary is in a relationship with a leading lawyer who is the “preferred counsel” for a company seeking a £20 billion nuclear power deal from his department.
By Rosa Prince and Robert Winnett

Ed Miliband insists that he has abided by the rules Photo: PA In his declaration for the register of ministers’ interests, released this week, Ed Miliband kept the identity of his girlfriend a secret from the media, although his department is aware who she is.

But The Daily Telegraph can disclose the woman is Justine Thornton, an energy and planning expert whose work includes representing major companies. She is described in the barristers’ bible, Chambers and Partners, as the “preferred counsel of E.On’’.

Green energy is great, but we need investment to keep the lights onThe German company is awaiting the go-ahead from Mr Miliband’s department to build four nuclear plants in Britain.

The revelation has raised questions about a potential conflict of interest and aides to Mr Miliband last night confirmed that he had not excused himself from any decisions taken at the department.

When he was appointed in October, Mr Miliband told his department of the nature of his girlfriend’s work. A spokesman said: “He has abided by the rules and continues to do so.”

Gordon Brown's younger brother Andrew is director of communications for the French power group in the UK.

EDF has been at the forefront of campaigning for new nuclear stations. It is, therefore, a bit embarrassing for its main spokesman that the French group has for the moment no way forward with British Energy, which owns the majority of the key nuclear stations and sites.



Vincent de Rivaz, EDF Energy's chief executive, has done the rounds of energy conferences issuing dire warnings about Britain's power capacity if nuclear does not win backing. But he has also emphasised that he has no inside track on ministers' views. No nods and winks, then, over Sunday lunch between the brothers, who are believed to be close socially.



Mr Brown was hired by EDF Energy four years ago from Weber Shandwick, a public relations and lobbying organisation. At the time, Michael Prescott, Weber Shandwick's head of corporate communications, described him as a “very calming, very thoughtful, very mature person with a gentle sense of humour”.

Scramble to rescue £12bn nuclear deal

Andrew Brown had moved to lobbying after a lengthy career as a broadcast journalist, working first as a BBC TV Scotland reporter before becoming a producer for Newsnight and then economics and business producer for Channel 4 News. A 26-year career in journalism ended with a seven-year editorship of Channel 4 News' thrice-weekly lunchtime political discussion programme Powerhouse.



The younger Mr Brown dislikes connections being made with his brother, especially in the nuclear industry, which is well known for its attachments to the political world. He maintains that he does his job, his brother does his.