Michael Howard

Michael Howard (born Michael Hecht, 7 July 1941) is a British politician who was the Leader of the Conservative Party from November 2003 to December 2005. He was also a cabinet minister in both Margaret Thatcher's and John Major's governments. He was a Member of Parliament for the constituency of Folkestone and Hythe from 1983 to 2010. In 2010, he entered the House of Lords as Baron Howard of Lympne.

The Right Honourable The Lord Howard of Lympne CH PC QC
Howard in 2023
Leader of the Opposition
In office 6 November 2003 – 6 December 2005
Monarch	Elizabeth II
Prime Minister	Tony Blair
Deputy	Michael Ancram
Preceded by	Iain Duncan Smith
Succeeded by	David Cameron
Leader of the Conservative Party
In office 6 November 2003 – 7 October 2005 Acting: 7 October – 6 December 2005
Deputy	Michael Ancram
Preceded by	Iain Duncan Smith
Succeeded by	David Cameron
Shadow Cabinet positions Shadow Chancellor of the Exchequer In office 18 September 2001 – 6 November 2003 Leader Iain Duncan Smith Preceded by Michael Portillo Succeeded by Oliver Letwin Shadow Foreign Secretary In office 11 June 1997 – 15 June 1999 Leader William Hague Preceded by John Major Succeeded by John Maples Shadow Home Secretary In office 2 May 1997 – 11 June 1997 Leader John Major Preceded by Jack Straw Succeeded by Brian Mawhinney Shadow Constitutional Affairs Spokesperson In office 2 May 1997 – 11 June 1997 Serving with William Hague Leader John Major Preceded by Position established Succeeded by Michael Ancram
Ministerial positions Home Secretary In office 27 May 1993 – 2 May 1997 Prime Minister John Major Preceded by Ken Clarke Succeeded by Jack Straw Secretary of State for the Environment In office 11 April 1992 – 27 May 1993 Prime Minister John Major Preceded by Michael Heseltine Succeeded by John Gummer Secretary of State for Employment In office 3 January 1990 – 11 April 1992 Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher John Major Preceded by Norman Fowler Succeeded by Gillian Shephard Minister of State for Housing In office 25 July 1989 – 3 January 1990 Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher Preceded by The Earl of Caithness Succeeded by Michael Spicer Minister of State for the Environment In office 25 July 1988 – 25 July 1989 Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher Preceded by The Earl of Caithness Succeeded by David Trippier Minister of State for Local Government In office 13 June 1987 – 25 July 1988 Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher Preceded by Rhodes Boyson Succeeded by John Gummer
Member of Parliament for Folkestone and Hythe
In office 10 June 1983 – 12 April 2010
Preceded by	Albert Costain
Succeeded by	Damian Collins
Member of the House of Lords Lord Temporal
Incumbent
Assumed office 13 July 2010 Life peerage
Personal details
Born	Michael Hecht (1941-07-07) 7 July 1941 Swansea, Wales, UK
Political party	Conservative
Spouse(s)	Sandra Paul ​ (m. 1975)​
Children	2
Alma mater	Peterhouse, Cambridge Inns of Court School of Law

Michael Howard was born in Gorseinon, a town in Swansea, Wales. He is of Jewish descent. He studied Law at the University of Cambridge and became a Queen's Counsel in 1982. He then became a Member of Parliament at the 1983 General Election. His cabinet jobs included Secretary of State for Employment (1990-1992), Secretary of State for the Environment (1992-1993) and Home Secretary (1993-1997). When the Conservative Party lost the 1997 General Election, Michael Howard became a member of the shadow cabinets of William Hague and Iain Duncan Smith.

In 2003, the Leader of the Conservative Party Iain Duncan Smith was made to resign and Michael Howard was elected unopposed to become the Conservative Party leader. 'Unopposed' means that no-one other than Michael Howard was a candidate. Michael Howard was the Conservative candidate to become Prime Minister at the 2005 General Election. The Conservatives did not win the election, however they had 33 more seats in Parliament than they did before. Michael Howard resigned shortly after this and David Cameron replaced him as Conservative Party leader.

He was made a Companion of Honour in the 2011 Birthday Honours.