biography
| name: |
Ridley (of Liddesdale), Nicholas Ridley, Baron
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| sex:
| male
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| lived:
| (1929–93)
|
| biography:
| British statesman, born in Newcastle upon Tyne, Tyne and Wear, NE England, UK. He studied at Oxford, and embarked on an industrial career, then moved into politics, becoming a Conservative MP in 1959. He held junior ministerial posts, and in 1979 joined the Margaret Thatcher government, entering the cabinet as secretary of state for transport (1983–6). Regarded as one of Mrs Thatcher's closest allies, he was moved from the department of the environment (1986–9), where he had responsibility for the controversial ‘poll tax’, to the department of trade and industry (1989–90). He resigned after making controversial remarks about the European Commission and Germany's role in Europe. He was created a life peer in 1992. |
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