Peter Riddell

Sir Peter John Robert Riddell (born 14 October 1948) is a British journalist and author. He worked for the Financial Times from 1970 to 1991, and from 2012 to 2016 was the director of the Institute for Government. From April 2016 to September 2021 he served as the British government's Commissioner for Public Appointments.

Early and personal life Riddell was born in Torquay, Devon, on 14 October 1948. His father, a solicitor, served in the RAF during the Second World War. Riddell lived in Streatham, London, during his early life. He attended Dulwich College and later graduated from Sidney Sussex College, Cambridge, with a BA in history and economics and an MA. From 1991 to 2010, he was a political commentator for The Times, of which he was also an assistant editor.

Civil society work He has been a member of the Hansard Society council since 1996 and was its chair from 2007 until 2012.

On 6 July 2010, the 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. His term, which was initially due to expire at the end of April 2021, was extended until the end of September 2021.

Riddell was appointed Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) in the 2012 Birthday Honours for services to journalism and for public service. He was knighted in the 2022 New Year Honours for public service.

Publications The Thatcher Government (1983), The Thatcher Decade (1989), The Thatcher Era and Its Legacy (1991), Honest Opportunism: The Rise of the Career Politician (1993), Parliament Under Pressure (1997), Parliament Under Blair (2000), Blair Government (2002), Hug Them Close: Blair, Clinton, Bush and the 'Special Relationship''' (2004), The Unfulfilled Prime Minister: Tony Blair's Quest for a Legacy (2006), In Defence of Politicians (in Spite of Themselves) (2011), The Power of Judges (2018), 15 Minutes of Power: The Uncertain Life of British Ministers'' (2019),