Nicholas Ridley Biography and Timeline

Under Secretary

Appointed Under Secretary of State for Trade & Industry

Role range: 1970-1974

Trade And Industry Appointment

Nicholas Ridley entered Edward Heath's government as a junior minister at the Department of Trade and Industry.

Selsdon Declaration

The "Selsdon Declaration", to which all members must subscribe, was adopted at the Selsdon Groups first meeting at the Selsdon Park Hotel in September 1973

Role range: 1970-1974 – 1970-1974

Selsdon Group

The "Selsdon Declaration", to which all members must subscribe, was adopted at the Selsdon Groups first meeting at the Selsdon Park Hotel in September 1973

Role range: 1970-1974 – 1970-1974

Election

Nicholas Ridley and others created the new group to uphold and promote the free market policies that they believed had won the Conservative Party the 1970 General Election

Role range: 1970-1974 – 1970-1974

Selsdon Group

Created in 1973 by Nicholas Ridley to promote free-market economic policies, following an intensive discussion to generate ideas at the Selsdon Park Hotel in Selsdon, with Edward Heath and his shadow cabinet in 1970.

Role range: 1970-1974 – 1970-1974

Selsdon Group

Nicholas Ridley and others created the new group to uphold and promote the free market policies that they believed had won the Conservative Party the 1970 General Election.

Role range: 1970-1974 – 1970-1974

Selsdon Group

The "Selsdon Declaration", to which all members must subscribe, was adopted at the Selsdon Groups first meeting at the Selsdon Park Hotel in September 1973.

Role range: 1970-1974 – 1970-1974

Selsdon Group Foundation

Nicholas Ridley helped establish the Selsdon Group to promote free market policies within the Conservative Party.

Selsdon Declaration Adopted

The Selsdon Group adopted a declaration setting out its commitment to market oriented Conservative policies.

Opposition Energy Debates

In opposition Nicholas Ridley participated in Conservative arguments about state owned industry and economic reform.

Nationalised Industry Strategy

Nicholas Ridley was associated with Conservative planning for handling future disputes in nationalised industries.

Ridley Report Prepared

The Ridley report set out contingency ideas for industrial disputes involving essential nationalised services.

Coal Stockpiling Proposal

The Ridley report advocated adequate coal stocks to withstand prolonged disruption in a future miners dispute.

Alternative Fuel Planning

Contingency proposals examined the role of alternative fuels in sustaining electricity generation during a coal strike.

Power Station Resilience

Conservative policy planning emphasised protecting electricity generation from disruption to coal deliveries.

Coal Transport Contingencies

The report considered ways of maintaining transport and distribution of supplies during industrial action.

Picketing Law Proposals

Ridley report recommendations envisaged legal and policing preparations for potential mass picketing.

Nationalised Industries Review

The report discussed industrial relations vulnerabilities across major state owned sectors including coal.

Conservative Government Returns

The Conservative Party entered government under Margaret Thatcher after the May 1979 general election.

Free Market Reform Debate

Nicholas Ridley continued to advocate market oriented approaches to public enterprises within the governing party.

State Enterprise Restructuring

Nicholas Ridley supported the wider Conservative policy interest in reducing the state sector and subsidies.

Coal Dispute Lesson

The governments withdrawal from immediate pit closure confrontation underscored the strategic importance of fuel supplies.

Electricity Supply Preparation

The 1981 miners confrontation highlighted how stockpiles and generation capacity could influence industrial bargaining.

Conservative Industrial Policy

Ridley remained associated with the Conservatives free market wing during arguments about nationalised industries.

Foreign Secretary of Great Britain

Appointed Foreign Minister

Role range: 1979-1990

Minister of Transport

Appointed Secretary for Transport, 1st term

Role range: 1979-1990

Transport Minister Appointment

Nicholas Ridley joined Margaret Thatcher's government as Secretary of State for Transport in 1983.

State Industry Reform Context

Ridley served in the government that appointed Ian MacGregor to lead the National Coal Board.

Miners Strike Policy Context

The 1984 strike unfolded after years of official preparation for disruption to energy supply.

Coal Reserves And Planning

The large coal stocks available during the dispute echoed contingency thinking associated with the Ridley report.

Coal Transport And Disruption

Movement of coal and coke became a major operational issue during the miners strike.

Mass Picketing Policy Debate

Police resources and the legality of flying pickets became major national issues during the dispute.

Trade Union Law Debate

Court decisions affecting the miners union intensified debate about Conservative industrial relations reforms.

Aftermath Of Miners Strike

The miners return to work without settlement was widely viewed as a major turning point in industrial relations.

Secretary of State for the Environment

Appointed Secretary of State for the Environment

Role range: 1979-1990 – 1986-1989

Environment Secretary Appointment

Nicholas Ridley became Secretary of State for the Environment in the Thatcher government.

Minister of Transport

Appointed Secretary for Transport, 2nd term

Role range: 1979-1990

Water Privatisation

Shares in the regional water companies begin trading following privatisation.

Role range: 1989-1990

Privatization

The ten regional water authorities are privatized raising 5 billion pounds

Role range: 1979-1990