Graham Riddick

Graham Edward Galloway Riddick (born 26 August 1955, in Long Preston, North Yorkshire) was the Conservative Party Member of Parliament (MP) for Colne Valley in West Yorkshire, England from 1987 to 1997.

His father ran the family's cotton mill in Nelson, Lancashire until its closure in the early 1960s. Riddick's maternal grandfather, Sir Edward Ruggles-Brise was MP for Maldon, Essex from 1922 - 1942.

Graham Riddick was educated at Stowe School and University of Warwick; he is married with three children. Before he became an MP, Riddick worked for 10 years in various sales management roles with Procter and Gamble (1977–82) and Coca Cola Schweppes Beverages (1982–87).

He won his seat in Parliament at the 1987 election becoming the first ever Conservative MP in Colne Valley's 102 year-history. He retained it at the 1992 election increasing his majority from 1,677 in 1987 to 7,224 in 1992.

In July 1994, a "sting operation" by The Sunday Times implicated Riddick in the "Cash for Questions" affair.

Two reporters from the newspaper posed as people wishing to have questions asked in the House of Commons. Both Riddick and fellow Conservative MP David Tredinnick were accused of accepting cash for asking questions. Riddick initially agreed to work for the journalist but on receiving a cheque from the reporter, he returned it immediately, before he knew that the reporter was working for a newspaper.

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