Richard Ryder, Baron Ryder of Wensum

For other people named Richard Ryder, see Richard Ryder (disambiguation).

Richard Andrew Ryder, Baron Ryder of Wensum, OBE, PC (born 4 February 1949) is a British Conservative Party politician. A former Member of Parliament (MP) and government minister, he was made a life peer in 1997 and was a member of the House of Lords from 1997 to 2021.

The Right Honourable The Lord Ryder of Wensum OBE PC
Chief Whip of the House of Commons Parliamentary Secretary to the Treasury
In office 28 November 1990 – 20 July 1995
Prime Minister	John Major
Preceded by	Tim Renton
Succeeded by	Alastair Goodlad
Junior ministerial offices 1986–1990 Paymaster General In office 14 July 1990 – 28 November 1990 Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher Preceded by The Earl of Caithness Succeeded by The Lord Belstead Economic Secretary to the Treasury In office 24 July 1989 – 14 July 1990 Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher Preceded by Peter Lilley Succeeded by John Maples Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food In office 25 July 1988 – 24 July 1989 Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher Preceded by Donald Thompson Succeeded by David Curry Assistant Government Whip In office 16 October 1986 – 24 July 1988 Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher
Member of Parliament for Mid Norfolk
In office 9 June 1983 – 8 April 1997
Preceded by	Constituency Created
Succeeded by	Keith Simpson
Political Secretary to the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom
In office 1979–1981
Prime Minister	Margaret Thatcher
Preceded by	Tom McNally
Succeeded by	Derek Howe
Personal details
Born	(1949-02-04) 4 February 1949
Political party	Conservative
Alma mater	Magdalene College, Cambridge

Early life

He was educated at Radley College and Magdalene College, Cambridge.

In the 1981 Birthday Honours Ryder was appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE), for political service.

Parliamentary career

Having unsuccessfully fought the Labour seat of Gateshead East in February and October 1974, Ryder was elected at the 1983 general election as MP for the Mid Norfolk constituency. From 1990 to 1995 he was the government's Chief Whip. This period includes the Conservative backbench rebellion over the Maastricht Treaty. The maverick MPs, known as the Maastricht Rebels, were under intense pressure from the government whips but still brought the administration of John Major close to collapse.

Ryder retired from the House of Commons at the 1997 general election, and was created a life peer as Baron Ryder of Wensum, of Wensum in the County of Norfolk on 22 November 1997. He will retire from the Lords on 12 April 2021.

Outside Parliament

He became Vice-Chairman of the BBC on 1 January 2002 for a four-year term.

Ryder was appointed Acting Chairman of the BBC following the resignation of Gavyn Davies on 28 January 2004. Davies resigned following the criticism of the BBC in the Hutton Report, which was set up to investigate "the circumstances surrounding the death of Dr David Kelly". One of Ryder's first acts as chairman was to give a televised statement, during which he offered an unreserved apology for the mistakes made during the Dr. Kelly affair. This apology was criticised by many, including departing Director General, Greg Dyke, as overdone. In the same statement Ryder announced that the process to select a new Chairman had begun, and that he would not be putting his name forward. Michael Grade was appointed on 2 April 2004 and took up his post on 17 May; Ryder resumed the post of Vice-Chairman.

Ryder resigned early on 1 August 2004, after which the position was assumed by Anthony Salz.

Ryder is the Chairman of the Institute of Cancer Research, and is a director of Ipswich Town F.C.

Family

A nephew of Sue Ryder, later Baroness Ryder and Cheshire, he married in 1981 Caroline Stephens CVO, MBE, only daughter of Sir David Stephens and Clemency Gore-Browne.

Lord and Lady Ryder of Wensum had two children.

External links

• Hansard 1803–2005: contributions in Parliament by Richard Ryder
• BBC News Profile