Ridley, Nicholas (1929-1993)

British Conservative politician, cabinet minister 1983-90. After a period in industry he became active as a ‘dry’ right-winger in the Conservative Party. He served under Harold Macmillan, Edward Heath, and Alec Douglas-Home, but did not become a member of the cabinet until 1983. His apparent disdain for public opinion caused his transfer, in 1989, from the politically sensitive department of the environment to that of trade and industry, and his resignation in July 1990 after criticisms of European colleagues and Germany.

Ridley was born in Newcastle upon Tyne, and after an education at Eton and Balliol College, Oxford, he spent his early career in industry around Tyneside before entering politics. He entered Parliament as member for Tewkesbury in 1959 and represented it until 1992. He held junior government posts before being made minister of state in the department of trade and industry 1970-72 under Edward Heath. In his mistrust of Brussels bureaucracy, he was ideologically in tune with Margaret Thatcher, who gave him progressively senior portfolios, including transport 1983-86, environment 1986-89, and trade and industry 1989-90. His article denigrating Germany in the Spectator (1990) eventually cost him his ministerial post and his political career.