Complex sentence: Following the Conservative victory in the general election of 1979, he was a Special Advisor to Sir Geoffrey Howe and Nigel Lawson as Chancellors of the Exchequer between 1979 and 1984, then was advisor to the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster for part of 1985.
Split into simpler sentences: Following the Conservative victory in the general election of 1979, he was a Special Advisor to Sir Geoffrey Howe and Nigel Lawson as Chancellors of the Exchequer between 1979 and 1984. Ridley's final post in the world of politics was as advisor to the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster for part of 1985.