Jonathan Fryer

Jonathan Harold Fryer (born 5 June 1950) is a British writer, broadcaster, lecturer and Liberal Democrat politician.

He was the LibDem candidate for the constituency of Poplar and Limehouse in the 2010 general election. As Chairman of the London Liberal Democrats, he has supervised the HQ's move to Brixton, and streamlined its operation.

Early life

Fryer was born in Manchester on 5 June 1950, under the name Graham Leslie Morton. Following the divorce of his natural mother, he was adopted as an infant by a local businessman and his wife, who later spent much of their time in South Africa. He has two natural sisters and one adopted one.

Education

After private primary education in Eccles, Fryer obtained a place at the independent Manchester Grammar School. He spent the summer of 1967 in Tours, at the Institut Tourain, perfecting his French. He left school before the end of his final year (having acquired 'A’ levels in English Literature, French and Geography) and travelled overland to Vietnam, where he reported on the war for the Manchester Evening News and the Geographical Magazine. His overland journey back to England in September 1969 gave him his first introduction to the Middle East, which has remained an abiding interest.