Richard Needham

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Richard Francis Needham, 6th Earl of Kilmorey, GCMG, PC (b. January 29, 1942) known as Sir Richard Needham is a former Conservative Party politician in the United Kingdom.

He was an unsuccessful candiadate for the safe Labour seat of Pontefract and Castleford at a by-election in 1978.

At the 1979 general election, Needham was returned as Member of Parliament for Chippenham in Wiltshire. That constituency was abolished for the 1983 general election, when he was returned to the House of Commons for the new Wiltshire North constituency. He held the seat until he retired from Parliament at the 1997 general election.

He served as a minister for Northern Ireland 1983-1992 and Minister of State for Trade 1992-1995, instrumental in transforming Northern Ireland's economic base and the UK's export strategy under Michael Heseltine.

Needham now works for Dyson. He has written two books: Honourable Member and Battling for Peace: Northern Ireland’s Longest-Serving British Minister (1999); an account of his years in Northern Ireland and his contribution to peace.

The Needham estates are near Kilkeel in County Down in Northern Ireland but the title and estates were separated when the fifth Earl inherited the title but opted to live in England. They are now owned by other family members. He maintains close links with Northern Ireland.

In 1965, he married Sigrid Thiessen-Gairtner, they have three children:

Robert Needham, Viscount Newry (b. 1966)
Hon. Andrew Needham (b. 1969)
Lady Christina Needham (b. 1977)

Needham holds the title Earl of Kilmorey, but does not use the title.

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Parliament of the United Kingdom
Preceded by Daniel Awdry	Member of Parliament for Chippenham 1979–1983	Succeeded by (constituency abolished)
Preceded by (new constituency)	Member of Parliament for Wiltshire North 1983–1997	Succeeded by James Gray
Peerage of Ireland
Preceded by Francis Needham	Earl of Kilmorey 1997 – present	Incumbent