Name: Gruffydd "Griff" Rhys Morrison
Avatar: Charles Dance
Age: 70 [b. 02.02.1945]
Sex: Male
Ethnicity: White British
Marital Status: Married
Sexual Orientation: Heterosexual
Party: Labour
Political Outlook: Labour First / Brownite
Constituency: North Tyneside
Year Elected: 1987
Education: PPE, Durham (St Cuthbert's College)
Career:
1967 - 1970: Freelance Writer, associated with Tribune and the Fabian Society
1970 - 1977: Parliamentary Researcher, Tony Crosland's Parliamentary office
1978 - 1987: Researcher, Labour Party
Political Career:
1978 - 1987: Chairman, Newcastle East Labour Party
1987 - 1997: Member of Parliament, Wallsend
1997 - Present: Member of Parliament, North Tyneside
1997 - 2002: Parliamentary Undersecretary of State, Department of Education
2002 - 2005: Minister of State, Northern Ireland Office
2005 - 2010: Secretary of State for Northern Ireland
Gruffydd "Griff" Owain Rhys Morrison, also known as Griff Morrison, was born in Wales in 1945. The son of Owain Rhys Morrison, a coalminer and his North East-born wife Enid, Rhys Morrison was brought up in a relatively stable family home. His father left his job at the mine in 1945 and joined the British Army for the final few months of WWII. He never returned from war and Enid moved the family back to her home village of Seaham, County Durham.
Rhys Morrison was fortunate enough to obtain a scholarship to attend Durham University as a member of St Cuthbert's Society where his uncle was a rector. Rhys Morrison worked as a Freelance Writer when he left University, during which time he become associated with the Fabian Society and Tribune.
Rhys Morrison joined Tony Crosland's parliamentary office in 1970 and remained a loyal friend until his death. During this time, Rhys Morrison was strongly associated with the Labour First arm of the party. Following the passing of his friend and mentor, Rhys Morrison returned to the North East and worked for the Labour Party directly. He chaired Newcastle East's Labour Party until 1987.
He was elected for Wallsend which he represented until the constituency's abolition in 1997. With a new constituency to represent, North Tyneside, and a new Labour Government in power, Rhys Morrison worked as a junior minister. He became strongly associated with the Brownite wing of the party.
He rose to join the cabinet in 2005 as Northern Ireland Secretary, a role he kept under ally Gordon Brown's premiership. Upon the 2010 electoral defeat, Rhys Morrison semi-retired to the backbenches. He remained close to the leadership of the party under Ed Miliband, though steered clear of formal roles.