Richard is Chair of Herefordshire for Europe since the end of 2019 and a member of the European Movement UK National Council since late 2021. As a diplomat from 1978-2013 he dealt with European institutional issues in the FCO in the mid-90s, during the Maastricht debate, and in his final two years, including the Review of the Balance of Competences between the EU and the UK. UK membership of the European Communities and then Union was always a key part of his approach to diplomacy in other postings too.