The Right Honourable Wyvill Richard Nicolls "Nick" Raynsford (born January 28, 1945) was born in Northampton and educated at Repton School and Sidney Sussex College, Cambridge, where he achieved a Masters Degree in History in [[1966].

He was first elected a Member of Parliament for the Labour Party in a by-election in 1986:

• Fulham (1986 - 1987)
• Greenwich (1992 - 1997)
• Greenwich & Woolwich (1997 - present)

His majority in the 2001 British General Election was 13,433 (receiving 60.52% of votes cast).

On May 29, 2002 he was appointed Minister of State for Local Government and the Regions with special responsibility for local government, English regions, electoral law , fire, health and safety and London.