12 Facts About Peter Ricketts

Peter Ricketts has sat as a crossbencher in the House of Lords since 2016.

Peter Ricketts was the UK government's first national security adviser from 2010 from 2012, serving under Prime Minister David Cameron.

Peter Ricketts married Suzanne Horlington; they have two adult children.

Peter Ricketts began his career in the Foreign and Commonwealth Office in 1974 and served as the Assistant Private Secretary to former Foreign Secretary Geoffrey Howe.

Peter Ricketts later served as the Permanent Representative to NATO in Brussels.

Peter Ricketts served under Prime Minister Tony Blair as Chairman of the Joint Intelligence Committee, leading him to give evidence to The Iraq Inquiry in November 2009.

From 2006 to 2010, Peter Ricketts served under Blair and Prime Minister Gordon Brown as the Permanent Secretary for the Foreign and Commonwealth Office.

Peter Ricketts served under Prime Minister David Cameron as the UK National Security Adviser from 2010 to 2012.

Peter Ricketts replaced Peter Westmacott as HM Ambassador to France effective January 2012, with Kim Darroch taking Ricketts's old role as National Security Adviser.

Peter Ricketts was nominated for a life peerage in the 2016 Prime Minister's Resignation Honours and was created Baron Ricketts, of Shortlands in the County of Kent, on 17 October.

In October 2020 a cross-party group of MPs and peers, backed by Lord Peter Ricketts, planned to take legal action against Prime Minister Boris Johnson over his government's refusal to order an inquiry into Russian interference in UK elections.

Peter Ricketts was appointed CMG in the 1999 Birthday Honours, Knight Commander of the Order of St Michael and St George in 2003, Knight Grand Cross of the Order of St Michael and St George in the 2011 New Year Honours, and Knight Grand Cross of the Royal Victorian Order in 2014.