Background
HOWARTH, George Edward was born on June 29, 1949 in Whiston, United Kingdom. Parents: George Howarth and Eleanor Howarth (née Roberts).
HOWARTH, George Edward was born on June 29, 1949 in Whiston, United Kingdom. Parents: George Howarth and Eleanor Howarth (née Roberts).
Born in Merseyside, Howarth was educated at the local Huyton Secondary School, the Kirkby College of Further Education, and the Liverpool John Moores University.
He also served the seat"s predecessors since being elected in a by-election in 1986, firstly as the Member of Parliament for Knowsley North (until 1997) and then Knowsley North and Sefton East (1997-2010). He went on to study at the University of Salford. He served his apprenticeship for four years from 1966 as an engineer, and then worked as an engineer until 1975 when he moved into teaching.
In 1980 he joined Cooperative Development Services, and in 1982 was appointed the Chief Executive at the Walm Cooperative Centre.
He became the Chief Executive of the Wales Trades Union Congress Centre in Cardiff, a position he held before his election to the House of Commons. Howarth was elected as a councillor to the Huyton District Council in 1971 and served in its successor the Knowsley Borough Council until 1986, becoming its deputy leader from 1982-1983.
He was the chair of the Knowsley South Constituency Labour Party for four years from 1981. The sitting Labour Member of Parliament for Knowsley North, Robert Kilroy-Silk resigned from Parliament to follow a career in television with the British Broadcasting Corporation. Howarth was elected on 13 November 1986 at the by-election with a safe majority of 6,724.
He has remained in Parliament since, becoming Member of Parliament for Knowsley North & Sefton East in 1997 and Knowlesy in 2010 as constituency boundaries were redrawn.
In Parliament he served as an opposition spokesperson on Environment 1989-1994 and Home Affairs 1994-1997. In 1997 he was appointed as Parliamentary Under Secretary of State at the Home Office, and then at the same position at the Northern Ireland Office in 1999. He left the government in 2001.
He has served on a wide variety of select committees.
Howarth served to enact the modern postal voting system. By 1999 the system of postal and proxy voting for those unable to vote at polling stations was seen as cumbersome and complex.
Absent voting should be allowed on demand
The application and voting procedures for absent voting should be simplified
The Representation of the People Acting 2000 implemented the recommendations. The Representation of the People (England & Wales) Regulations 2001 introduced the changes to the absent voting arrangements from 16 February 2001.
The main change was to allow postal voting on demand.
Howarth was appointed temporary deputy speaker of the House after the 2015 Queens Speech until the new deputy speakers were elected on 3 June 2015.
Anglican
Howarth, as Minister of State at the Home Office, chaired the Working Party on Electoral Procedures, which recommended that.
49th United Kingdom Parliament. 50th United Kingdom Parliament. 51st United Kingdom Parliament.
52nd United Kingdom Parliament.
53rd United Kingdom Parliament. 54th United Kingdom Parliament.
55th United Kingdom Parliament. 56th United Kingdom Parliament]
He became a member of the Privy Council in 2005.
Spouse Julie Howarth (née Rodgers), 1977. Children: Ben, Siân, Jack.