John Roper

John Roper was the first Director of the WEU Institute, from April 1990 to September 1995. A former university lecturer and former member of parliament, prior to becoming Director he held a senior position on the staff of the Royal Institute of International Affairs (RIIA). John Roper was a member of the House of Commons from 1970 to 1983, Opposition spokesman on defence (1979-81) and Chief Whip of the Social Democratic Party from 1981 to 1983. He was also a member of the House of Lords and professorial fellow at the Institute for German Studies, Birmingham University.