James Prior, Baron Prior

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James Michael Leathes Prior, Baron Prior, PC, (born 11 October 1927) is a British politician, and was Conservative Member of Parliament (MP) for Lowestoft and then for Waveney.

He was first elected to Parliament in 1959, and was Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food from 1970-1972, then Leader of the House of Commons and Lord President of the Council until 1974. Under Margaret Thatcher he was Secretary of State for Employment from 1979 to 1981. During this period he is believed to have angered the Prime Minister by not pressing far enough with anti-trade union legislation. He became Secretary of State for Northern Ireland until 1984. This transfer was widely seen as a move by Margaret Thatcher to isolate Prior, who disagreed with her on a number of economic issues and was seen as one of the cabinet 'wets'. The post of Secretary of State for Northern Ireland was for a time seen as a dumping ground to marginalise ministers. He retired from Parliament in 1987 and was later created a life peer as Baron Prior, of Brampton in the County of Suffolk.

He is Vice President and was Chairman of the Rural Housing Trust.

Parliament of the United Kingdom
Preceded by: Edward Evans	Member of Parliament for Lowestoft 1959–1983	Succeeded by: (constituency abolished)
Preceded by: (new constituency)	Member of Parliament for Waveney 1983–1987	Succeeded by: David Porter
Political offices
Preceded by: Cledwyn Hughes	Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food 1970–1972	Succeeded by: Joseph Godber
Preceded by: Robert Carr	Lord President of the Council 1972–1974	Succeeded by: Edward Short
Preceded by: Robert Carr	Leader of the House of Commons 1972–1974	Succeeded by: Edward Short
Preceded by: Albert Booth	Secretary of State for Employment 1979–1981	Succeeded by: Norman Tebbit
Preceded by: Humphrey Atkins	Secretary of State for Northern Ireland 1981–1984	Succeeded by: Douglas Hurd