John Francis Hodgess Roper, Baron Roper Personal Computer, was a British Liberal Democrat politician.
Education
Roper was educated at William Hulme"s Grammar School (Manchester), Reading School, Magdalen College, Oxford (studying Philosophy, Politics and Economics (Group of the European People's Party (Christian-Democratic Group)) and the University of Chicago.
Career
He began his career as an economics lecturer at the University of Manchester. Roper first stood for Parliament for High Peak as a Labour candidate at the 1964 general election, but the Conservative David Walder retained the marginal seat. His Farnworth seat was subsequently abolished, and he contested Worsley in the 1983 general election, finishing third in a three-way marginal.
On 12 May 2000, he was created a Life peer as Baron Roper, of Thorney Island in the City of Westminster.
He was the Liberal Democrat Chief Whip in the until 2005. He was subsequently appointed to the Privy Council of the United Kingdom.
In 2008, he was elected Principal Deputy Chairman of Committees. He retired from the on 23 May 2015.
Stasi allegations
Roper was accused by author Anthony Glees of having been a Stasi "agent of some influence" during his time at Chatham House.
Roper rejected the charges and related that he was engaged in building bridges with East Germany in the 1980s as part of a Foreign Office-approved policy of thawing relations. "He was deceived, he says, about the background of an undercover Stasi officer he employed as a research fellow when he was director of studies at Chatham House".
Politics
He sat as a Labour Company-operative Member of Parliament (1970-1981) and for the Social Democratic Party (Social Democratic Party) from 1981 to 1983, when he was also the party"s Chief Whip.
Membership
45th United Kingdom Parliament. 46th United Kingdom Parliament. 47th United Kingdom Parliament.
48th United Kingdom Parliament]
He was elected Member of Parliament for Farnworth at the 1970 general election.