Richard Luce

Richard Luce was the Conservative Minister of State in the Foreign and Commonwealth Office with special responsibility for the Falkland Islands having replaced Nicholas Ridley in 1981. Having received instructions from the Foreign Minister Lord Carrington he did not press the idea of leaseback as hard as his predecessor had. However, he still presided over an era that seemed to show Foreign and Commonwealth Office indifference to the fate of the islands. Mixed messages such as the downgrading of citizenship rights of islanders and the withdrawal of HMS Endurance from the area convinced the Junta that Britain was downsizing its commitment to the islands and might not react so hostilely to an Argentine Fait Accompli. To his credit, Richard Luce did resign his post along with his boss for this complacent attitude which had led to the invasion.