Constituency : Middleton 1906-18, Middleton and Prestwich 1918-23
Ryland took Middleton from the Tories.
Ryland hailed from Northampton. He was educated at University College, London and Oxford. He became a barrister. He was a Congregationalist. He was one of the original councillors on Northamptonshire County Council in 1889.
Ryland was knighted in 1911. He was also appointed Recorder of Northampton. This necessitated a by-election which was keenly fought on the issue of National Insurance. Lloyd George sent Ryland a public letter repudiating the Unionist claims. Ryland held on by 411 votes.
In 1912 Ryland was chosen by the whips to move an amendment to the motion of censure on the Marconi scandal.
Ryland was appointed to commissions on drunkenness, federal devolution and old age pensions. He was a member of the Speaker's Conference on Electoral Reform. In 1918 he made a speech in favour of the alternative vote.
Ryland was vice-chairman of the Northamptonshire Territorial Forces Association and played an important part in recruiting during the war. In 1915 he wrote to Asquith opposing conscription, pointing out the great opposition in his constituency.
Strangely, Ryland received the coupon in 1918 despite having voted with Asquith in the Maurice debate. He won the new seat of Middleton and Prestwich comfortably in the absence of a Unionist candidate. He repaid Lloyd George with loyalty in the new Parliament. In 1920 he sent Lloyd George a letter opposing the idea
In 1920 Ryland was appointed Recorder of Birmingham and had to face another by-election. However he was returned unopposed because an outbreak of smallpox in the constituency necessitated an electoral truce.
Despite the collapse of the coalition Ryland didn't face a Conservative opponent in 1922 and held on comfortably. In 1923 they did contest the seat and defeated Ryland by 529 votes. In 1924 he came third.
He died of gastric flu in 1925 aged 62.
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