Editing Geoffrey Howe (section)

=== Backbencher ===
Howe represented [[Bebington (UK Parliament constituency)|Bebington]] in the [[British House of Commons|House of Commons]] from 1964 to 1966 with a much-reduced majority. He became a chairman of the backbench committee on social services, being quickly recognised for promotion to the front bench as HM Opposition spokesman on welfare and labour policy. He was defeated at the [[1966 United Kingdom general election|1966 general election]].

Howe returned to the bar. He participated in the 1966 [[Aberfan Disaster Tribunal]], representing the colliery managers.<ref>{{cite report |title=Report of the Tribunal appointed to inquire into the Disaster at Aberfan on October 21st, 1966 |chapter=Appendix A – Parties and their legal representatives |year=1967 |chapter-url=http://www.dmm.org.uk/ukreport/553-91.htm |publisher=[[Durham Mining Museum]] |access-date=2021-04-26 |archive-date=1 November 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201101064146/http://www.dmm.org.uk/ukreport/553-91.htm |url-status=live }}</ref> He sat as deputy chairman of Glamorgan [[quarter sessions]]. More politically significant was working on the Latey Committee, tasked with recommending a reduction in the voting age. In 1969, he chaired the committee of inquiry to investigate alleged abuse at [[Ely Hospital|Ely Mental Hospital]], Cardiff. On Howe's insistence, the inquiry's remit was expanded to cover the treatment of patients with [[intellectual disabilities]] within the National Health Service. The report greatly impacted mental health provision in the UK, beginning a process that led to the widespread closure of large mental hospitals.<ref>{{cite news |last=Drakeford |first=Mark |author-link=Mark Drakeford |title=Why the Ely inquiry changed healthcare forever |url=https://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/health/ely-inquiry-changed-healthcare-forever-2041200 |access-date=11 September 2020 |work=[[Wales Online]] |date=6 February 2012 |archive-date=14 August 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200814023712/https://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/health/ely-inquiry-changed-healthcare-forever-2041200 |url-status=live }}</ref> But of more legislative importance were the Street Committee on racial discrimination, and Cripps Committee on discrimination against women, the reports of which helped the Labour government to change the law.

He returned to the House of Commons as the MP for [[Reigate (UK Parliament constituency)|Reigate]] from 1970 to 1974 and [[East Surrey]] from 1974 to 1992. In 1970, he was appointed [[Solicitor General for England and Wales|Solicitor General]] in [[Edward Heath]]'s government and was [[Knight Bachelor|knighted]].<ref>{{London Gazette|issue=45166|date=6 August 1970 |page=8679}}</ref> He was responsible for the [[Industrial Relations Act]] that caused immediate retaliatory union strikes. He was promoted in 1972 to Minister of State at the [[Department of Trade and Industry (United Kingdom)|Department of Trade and Industry]], with a seat in the [[Cabinet of the United Kingdom|Cabinet]] and [[Privy Council (United Kingdom)|Privy Council]] membership, a post he held until Labour was returned to government in [[February 1974 United Kingdom general election|March 1974]].<ref name="IndObit" />