Michael Howard

British politician; Former leader of the Conservative Party (UK) (born 1941)

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 Lord Howard of Lympne

Howard in 2023
Leader of the Opposition
In office
6 November 2003 – 6 December 2005
MonarchElizabeth II
Prime MinisterTony Blair
DeputyMichael Ancram
Preceded byIain Duncan Smith
Succeeded byDavid Cameron
Leader of the Conservative Party
In office
6 November 2003 – 7 October 2005
Acting: 7 October – 6 December 2005
DeputyMichael Ancram
Preceded byIain Duncan Smith
Succeeded byDavid Cameron
Shadow Cabinet positions
Shadow Chancellor of the Exchequer
In office
18 September 2001 – 6 November 2003
LeaderIain Duncan Smith
Preceded byMichael Portillo
Succeeded byOliver Letwin
Shadow Foreign Secretary
In office
11 June 1997 – 15 June 1999
LeaderWilliam Hague
Preceded byJohn Major
Succeeded byJohn Maples
Shadow Home Secretary
In office
2 May 1997 – 11 June 1997
LeaderJohn Major
Preceded byJack Straw
Succeeded byBrian Mawhinney
Shadow Constitutional Affairs Spokesperson
In office
2 May 1997 – 11 June 1997
Serving with William Hague
LeaderJohn Major
Preceded byPosition established
Succeeded byMichael Ancram
Ministerial positions
Home Secretary
In office
27 May 1993 – 2 May 1997
Prime MinisterJohn Major
Preceded byKen Clarke
Succeeded byJack Straw
Secretary of State for the Environment
In office
11 April 1992 – 27 May 1993
Prime MinisterJohn Major
Preceded byMichael Heseltine
Succeeded byJohn Gummer
Secretary of State for Employment
In office
3 January 1990 – 11 April 1992
Prime MinisterMargaret Thatcher
John Major
Preceded byNorman Fowler
Succeeded byGillian Shephard
Minister of State for Housing
In office
25 July 1989 – 3 January 1990
Prime MinisterMargaret Thatcher
Preceded byThe Earl of Caithness
Succeeded byMichael Spicer
Minister of State for the Environment
In office
25 July 1988 – 25 July 1989
Prime MinisterMargaret Thatcher
Preceded byThe Earl of Caithness
Succeeded byDavid Trippier
Minister of State for Local Government
In office
13 June 1987 – 25 July 1988
Prime MinisterMargaret Thatcher
Preceded byRhodes Boyson
Succeeded byJohn Gummer
Member of Parliament
for Folkestone and Hythe
In office
10 June 1983 – 12 April 2010
Preceded byAlbert Costain
Succeeded byDamian Collins
Member of the House of Lords
Lord Temporal
Assumed office
13 July 2010
Life peerage
Personal details
Born
Michael Hecht

(1941-07-07) 7 July 1941 (age 82)
Swansea, Wales, UK
Political partyConservative
Spouse(s)
Sandra Paul (m. 1975)
Children2[1]
Alma materPeterhouse, Cambridge
Inns of Court School of Law

Michael Howard was born in Gorseinon, a town in Swansea, Wales.[2] He is of Jewish descent.[3] 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.[4] '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.[5]

References change

  1. "Michael Howard's son tells liberal Anglicans have thwarted his ambition". The Daily Mail (Mail Online). London. 30 September 2006. Retrieved 14 February 2017.
  2. "News - Michael Howard". London: independent.co.uk. 13 April 2002. Archived from the original on 31 August 2011. Retrieved 13 April 2002.
  3. The Guardian
  4. "Howard will stand down as leader". BBC News. 6 May 2005.
  5. [1] Cabinet Office, 11 June 2011