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.