Peter Riddell



Profile:
Full name:

Area of interest: British politics

Journals/Organisation: The Times

Email: [mailto:peter.riddell@thetimes.co.uk peter.riddell@thetimes.co.uk]

Personal website:

Website:

Blog:

Representation:

Networks: http://uk.linkedin.com/pub/peter-riddell/b/5a3/563



Biography:
About: A journalist for about 40 years, divided between the Financial Times and The Times, where he was chief political analyst and commentator, leaving the paper in 2010. A frequent broadcaster and author of seven books and also given frequent lectures. He chairs the Hansard Society, a non-partisan charity which promoters understanding of Parliament and representative democracy. He was appointed to the Privy Council in July 2010 in order to serve on the Detainee Inquiry. On 6 July 2010 Prime Minister David Cameron announced that Riddell would be one of three members of an inquiry to determine whether British intelligence officers were complicit in the torture of detainees, including those from the Guantanamo Bay detention camp or subject to rendition flights. Riddell joined the Privy Council to permit easier access to secret information. More here

Education:

Career:

Current position/role: Senior Fellow in the Institute for Government


 * also writes/written for: Contributor to The Times

Other roles/Main role:

Other activities: http://www.speakerscornertrust.org/about-us/who-we-are/scts-advisory-council/peter-riddell

Disclosures:

Viewpoints/Insight:

Broadcast media: Presenter on Radio 4's Week in Westminster

Video:

Controversy/Criticism:

Awards/Honours: 'Hug them close' won the Channel 4 Political Book of the Year Award; Peter Riddell awarded British Academy President's Medal - Institute Senior Fellow the Rt Hon Peter Riddell has been awarded an inaugural President's Medal from the British Academy for "signal service to the cause of the humanities and social sciences." - 29th November 2010; Fellow of the Royal Historical Society and an Honorary Fellow of the Political Studies Association

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Books & Debate:

 * The Thatcher Government, 1983 (Blackwell) ISBN 0631145192; The Thatcher Decade, 1989 ISBN 0631162747; Honest Opportunism, 1993 ISBN 0575400390; Parliament Under Blair, 2000 (Politico's) ISBN 1902301609; Hug Them Close: Blair, Clinton, Bush and the 'Special Relationship', 2004 (Politico's) ISBN 1842751182

Latest work: The Unfulfilled Prime Minister: Tony Blair's Quest for a Legacy, 2006 (Politico's) ISBN 1842751689
 * see BBC News: Booktalk with Peter Riddell discussing "The Unfulfilled Prime Minister: Tony Blair's Quest for a Legacy" with Mark D'Arcy (VIDEO)

Speaking/Appearances:

Debate: 

The Times:
Column name: Political Briefing

Remit/Info: British Politics

Section: Comment

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Articles: 2010

 * afraid of a big bad hung Parliament?'' - Only in Britain are coalition or minority governments seen as dangerous. Look abroad to see how they can work - 23rd April


 * Osborne ready to reshape Treasury as finance ministry'' - 13th February



Articles: 2009

 * to take power: 10 top tips'' - Winning elections is one thing, getting a grip on the reins of government is quite another - 2nd October
 * could win back deserters'' - Gordon Brown is backed to remain Prime Minister by current and past Labour voters but most say he isn't doing a good job - 12th June
 * Brown statement: what it really means'' - Gordon Brown’s statement on reform is not just part of his relaunch but what kind of representative democracy does he want? - 11th June
 * Brown’s road to defeat is paved with good intentions'' - The real test for Brown is credibility: overcoming the widespread view that the Government is going through the motions - 9th June
 * survives but his future's still in doubt'' - Despite a reshuffle, the Prime Minister is a long way from a credible relaunch and remains damaged by this week’s events - 6th June
 * a devastating blow for Brown'' - The future of Mr Brown is now out in the open. There is no longer any code, any disingenuous declarations of loyalty. It is a battle for power - 5th June (See: James Purnell resignation shocks Gordon Brown)
 * options are narrowing by the hour — but it’s not over yet'' - t's very hard to oust prime ministers and, despite his dwindling authority, Gordon Brown still has cards left to play - 4th June
 * ahead in tactical battle on expenses'' - The Conservative leader is leaving Gordon Brown and the Government behind when it comes to direct action on MPs’ claims - 27th May
 * sees advantage in electoral reform'' - The revival of proposals rejected by Labour under Tony Blair could potentially rescue the party from public disaffection - 25th May
 * to change the face of politics?'' - Politicians now accept the need to rebuild trust and engagement with voters. But how to do it? And is consensus possible - 22nd May
 * expenses turmoil, seven ways forward'' - The backlash leading to the Speaker’s resignation has created opportunities for change, but what are the real prospects? - 21st May



Journals:

 * No regular column



Articles:

 * The dilemma for Whitehall civil servants - UK’s vote on Europe makes it tricky to enforce policy while staying impartial - 5th March 2016



News & updates:

 * Times political commentator Peter Riddell to quit paper after 19 years - Veteran Times journalist to leave as part of latest round of voluntary redundancies at the paper - The Guardian, 18th June 2010



References:


Links:

 * http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peter_Riddell
 * Hack watch: The security services and Whitehall have long kept dossiers on certain journalists but, characteristically, New Labour has widened the focus - as an internal cabinet memo obtained by the Guardian shows - Seumas Milne, Kevin Maguire, The Guardian, 22nd January 2001