George Howarth (1949)

Their Story

Sir George Edward Howarth was a dedicated Labour politician who served the people of Knowsley for nearly four decades. First elected in a by-election in November 1986, he represented the Merseyside constituency through multiple boundary changes until his retirement in 2024, becoming the borough's longest-serving MP. Before entering Parliament, Howarth worked as an engineer and teacher, and later held executive positions in cooperative development. Throughout his parliamentary career, he served as an opposition spokesperson and junior minister in Tony Blair's government, holding positions at both the Home Office and Northern Ireland Office between 1997 and 2001. His service was recognized with a knighthood in 2019 and membership in the Privy Council. Beyond Westminster, Howarth was a passionate local advocate, championing major community projects including the Shakespeare North Playhouse in his birthplace of Prescot. He was awarded Freedom of the Borough of Knowsley in 2022, an honour he deeply cherished. Howarth is survived by his wife Julie and three children.

Sources

• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_Howarth