Editing Gerald Howarth

{{Short description|British politician}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2023}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| honorific-prefix = [[Knight Bachelor|Sir]]
| name             = Gerald Howarth
| honorific-suffix = 
| image            = Gerald Howarth, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for the MOD.jpg
| caption          = 
| office1          = [[Minister for International Security Strategy|Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for International Security Strategy]]
| term_start1      = 12 May 2010
| term_end1        = 4 September 2012
| predecessor1     = [[Ann Taylor, Baroness Taylor of Bolton|The Baroness Taylor of Bolton]]
| successor1       = [[Andrew Murrison]]
| primeminister1   = [[David Cameron]]
| office2          = [[Member of Parliament (United Kingdom)|Member of Parliament]] <br /> for [[Aldershot (UK Parliament constituency)|Aldershot]]
| term_start2      = 1 May 1997
| term_end2        = 3 May 2017
| predecessor2     = [[Julian Critchley]]
| successor2       = [[Leo Docherty]]
| office3          = [[Member of Parliament (United Kingdom)|Member of Parliament]] <br /> for [[Cannock and Burntwood (UK Parliament constituency)|Cannock and Burntwood]]
| parliament3      = 
| term_start3      = 9 June 1983
| term_end3        = 16 March 1992
| majority3        = 
| predecessor3     = [[Gwilym Roberts]]
| successor3       = [[Tony Wright (Cannock Chase MP)|Tony Wright]]
| birth_name       = James Gerald Douglas Howarth
| birth_date       = {{Birth date and age|1947|09|12|df=yes}}
| birth_place      = 
| death_date       = 
| death_place      = 
| nationality      = British
| spouse           = Elizabeth Jane Squibb
| party            = [[Conservative Party (UK)|Conservative]] 
| children         = 3
| residence        = 
| alma_mater       = [[University of Southampton]] 
| profession       = 
| signature        = 
| website          = {{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20130224030858/http://www.geraldhowarth.org/ www.geraldhowarth.org]}}
| footnotes        = 
}}
'''Sir James Gerald Douglas Howarth''' (born 12 September 1947) is a British [[Conservative Party (UK)|Conservative Party]] politician. He was the [[Member of Parliament (United Kingdom)|Member of Parliament]] (MP) for [[Aldershot (UK Parliament constituency)|Aldershot]] from [[1997 United Kingdom general election|1997]] until [[2017 United Kingdom general election|2017]], having been the MP for [[Cannock and Burntwood (UK Parliament constituency)|Cannock and Burntwood]] from 1983 to 1992.

He was the [[Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State]] at the [[Ministry of Defence (United Kingdom)|Ministry of Defence]] as Minister for International Security Strategy from May 2010 to September 2012 and is chairman of [[Conservative Way Forward]]. In 2016, he joined the political advisory board of [[Leave Means Leave]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.leavemeansleave.eu/who-we-are/ |title=Co-Chairmen - Political Advisory Board - Supporters |publisher=Leave Means Leave |access-date=8 December 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171024153425/http://www.leavemeansleave.eu/who-we-are/ |archive-date=24 October 2017 |url-status=dead }}</ref> He stood down at the [[2017 United Kingdom general election|2017 general election]].<ref name="Lloyd2017">{{cite news|last=Lloyd|first=Stephen|url=http://www.getsurrey.co.uk/news/local-news/aldershot-mp-sir-gerald-howarth-12919596|title=Aldershot MP Sir Gerald Howarth will NOT seek re-election after 34 years in the Commons|work=Get Surrey|date=20 April 2017|access-date=20 April 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170420175549/http://www.getsurrey.co.uk/news/local-news/aldershot-mp-sir-gerald-howarth-12919596|archive-date=20 April 2017|url-status=live}}</ref>

==Early life and career==
The son of James and Mary Howarth, he was educated at [[Bloxham School]] and the [[University of Southampton]] (BA Hons), and married Elizabeth Jane (née Squibb) in 1973; the couple have two sons and a daughter, Emily, who is married to Conservative MP [[James Cartlidge]].

Howarth joined the Conservative party in 1964.<ref>Andrew Roth parliamentary A-Z</ref> and in March 1968 was present at the [[Grosvenor Square]] [[Opposition to United States involvement in the Vietnam War|anti-Vietnam War demonstration]], waving a US flag in support of the war, saying "I suspect that I am unique among those of us who were there in Grosvenor Square on that horrifying and frightening occasion in so far as mine was the only banner in support of the Americans. I took the precaution of ensuring that there was a thin blue line of men from the Metropolitan police between me and the hordes, and very wise I was, too".<ref>[https://www.theyworkforyou.com/debates/?id=1988-03-10a.645.0&s=%22enoch+powell%22+speaker%3A10293 Hansard] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180816062155/https://www.theyworkforyou.com/debates/?id=1988-03-10a.645.0&s=%22enoch+powell%22+speaker%3A10293 |date=16 August 2018 }}, 10 March 1988</ref> On 16 April 1970, Howarth demonstrated in favour of the abolition of [[exchange controls]] outside the [[Bank of England]].<ref>The Times - 17 April 1970</ref> On 14 January 1975 he wrote to ''[[The Times]]'' newspaper defending the conviction of [[Ricky Tomlinson]] and Des Warren over the Shrewsbury building strike.<ref>The Times - 14 January 1975.</ref>

A qualified private [[Aviator|pilot]], he was commissioned into the [[Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve]] as an [[acting pilot officer]] in 1968,<ref>{{London Gazette |issue=44713 |date=12 November 1968 |page=12124 |supp=y }}</ref> serving until late 1969.<ref>{{London Gazette |issue=45069 |date=26 March 1970 |page=3643 |supp=y }}</ref> Twenty years later, in 1988, he received the [[Britannia Airways]] Parliamentary Pilot of the Year Award. In 1971 Howarth was employed by the [[Bank of America]] International Ltd, where he remained until 1977, when he moved to the European Arab Bank. He then became the Syndication Manager for the [[Standard Chartered Bank]] for the next two years, after which he was first elected to parliament.{{cn|date=August 2021}}

Howarth was General Secretary of the [[Society for Individual Freedom]], a right-wing pressure group, from 1969 to 1971 after leaving university.<ref name="dod">[https://books.google.com/books?id=RjOIAAAAMAAJ&q=%22Society+for+Individual+Freedom%22 ''Dod's Guide to the General Election, June 2001''] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190328083336/https://books.google.co.uk/books?id=RjOIAAAAMAAJ&dq=Howarth+was+General+Secretary+of+the+Society+for+Individual+Freedom%2C&focus=searchwithinvolume&q=%22Society+for+Individual+Freedom%22 |date=28 March 2019 }}, Vacher Dod Publishing, 2001, page 152</ref> He was also once an active member of the [[Conservative Monday Club]] while at university.<ref>[https://books.google.com/books?id=MmdDAQAAIAAJ&q=gerald+howarth+ ''New Society''] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160625105452/https://books.google.co.uk/books?id=MmdDAQAAIAAJ&dq=gerald+howarth+national+%22monday+club%22++executive+council.&focus=searchwithinvolume&q=gerald+howarth+ |date=25 June 2016 }}, London. Volume 11, 1968, page 592</ref> From 1973 to 1977 he was Director of the Freedom Under The Law Group.<ref name="dod" /> He served as an elected councillor on the [[London Borough of Hounslow]] from 1982 to 1983, and sat on its Environmental Planning, and Finance and General Purposes Committees.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.vulcantothesky.org/faq-contact/the-trust.html |title=Trustees of Vulcan to the Sky Trust |access-date=27 April 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160514083234/http://www.vulcantothesky.org/faq-contact/the-trust.html |archive-date=14 May 2016 |url-status=live }}</ref>

While [[South Africa]] was governed under the [[apartheid]] system, Howarth set up a "Hain prosecution fund"<ref>[https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2001/mar/19/peterhain Andrew Roth's parliament profiles: Peter Hain Neath (1987- )] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170404045724/https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2001/mar/19/peterhain |date=4 April 2017 }}, ''[[The Guardian]]'', 19 March 2001</ref> to raise money to privately prosecute anti-apartheid activist [[Peter Hain]], later a Labour cabinet minister. The prosecution was sponsored by the Society for Individual Freedom, of which Howarth was the general secretary. According to [[John Mann, Baron Mann|John Mann]], Howarth and Francis Bennion set up an organisation to counter the anti-apartheid movement called "Freedom Under Law".<ref>[https://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm201314/cmhansrd/cm140123/debtext/140123-0003.htm  Commons Debates > Daily Hansard - Debate] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170318064733/https://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm201314/cmhansrd/cm140123/debtext/140123-0003.htm |date=18 March 2017 }}, 23 January 2014 : Column 505</ref>{{primary inline|date=August 2021}}

==Parliamentary career==
===First spell (1983–92)===
Howarth was first elected for the [[Cannock and Burntwood (UK Parliament constituency)|Cannock and Burntwood]] constituency in the Conservative landslide victory at the [[1983 United Kingdom general election|1983 general election]]. Allegations of far-right sympathies were made against Howarth in a controversial January 1984 ''[[Panorama (British TV programme)|Panorama]]'' programme, "[[Maggie's Militant Tendency]]". Howarth and his close friend [[Neil Hamilton (politician)|Neil Hamilton]] both successfully sued the BBC and were each awarded £20,000 damages for libel in October 1986, with their court costs paid.{{citation needed|date=February 2019}}

Howarth was Parliamentary Private Secretary to [[Michael Spicer]] when Under-Secretary of State at the Department of Energy 1987–90, and as Minister of State, Department of the Environment in 1990. In November that year he voted for first of all Margaret Thatcher in the leadership election of the Conservative Party. When she resigned he voted for [[John Major]] to succeed her.

He lost his seat at the [[1992 United Kingdom general election|1992 general election]]. He was absent from parliament for five years, but was re-elected at the [[1997 United Kingdom general election|1997 general election]] as MP for [[Aldershot (constituency)|Aldershot]].
[[File:Christopher Gill & Gerald Howarth MP.jpg|thumb|left|200px|Howarth and [[Christopher Gill]] (Conservative MP for Ludlow 1987–2001) demonstrating against the [[European Union]] in 2009.]]

===Second spell (1997–2017)===
He is a supporter of the British [[defence industry]], when, speaking in support of the industry, he told delegates at a meeting in 2009 sponsored by the Defense Industries Council that "People who decry the defence industry should hang their heads in shame because it is a noble industry". He also told the meeting that, should his party attain government, he could accept the title of "Minister for War" reflecting his belief that wider Government should recognise that Great Britain is at war and support the armed forces appropriately.<ref>{{Cite news |title=Crawl to arms |newspaper=[[Private Eye]] |location= London |issue=1247|date=16 October 2009 |page=9}}</ref>

In 2001, Howarth was one of several famous faces duped into appearing on the Channel Four ''[[Brass Eye]]'' television programme; this was the "Paedogeddon" spoof episode, where he agreed to read out anti-paedophile warnings.<ref>Hugh Muir (7 November 2007).[https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2007/nov/07/2 "Diary"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160513113334/http://www.theguardian.com/politics/2007/nov/07/2 |date=13 May 2016 }}. ''The Guardian''. London.</ref>

In a programme in 2008 about the fall of [[Margaret Thatcher]], Howarth told [[Michael Portillo]] that he was "gutted" when Thatcher resigned in November 1990.{{citation needed|date=February 2019}}

At the [[2015 United Kingdom general election|2015 general election]] Howarth was joined in the Commons by his son-in-law, [[James Cartlidge]], the Conservative MP for [[South Suffolk (UK Parliament constituency)|South Suffolk]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.theyworkforyou.com/debates/?id=2015-06-01b.344.0 |title=House of Commons debates |publisher=TheyWorkForYou |date=1 June 2015 |access-date=22 September 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180922064246/https://www.theyworkforyou.com/debates/?id=2015-06-01b.344.0 |archive-date=22 September 2018 |url-status=live }}</ref> On 20 April 2017, Howarth announced he would not be seeking re-election in the [[2017 United Kingdom general election|2017 general election]] and now resides in Suffolk.<ref name="Lloyd2017"/>

=== Race relations ===
In 1999, Howarth questioned the conclusion of the [[Macpherson report]] (into Stephen Lawrence's death) that the Metropolitan police are "institutionally racist" as "a grotesque over-reaction."<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/323879.stm|title=Straw tells of Lawrence report impact|date=20 April 1999|work=BBC News|access-date=26 April 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20030305093035/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/323879.stm|archive-date=5 March 2003|url-status=live}}</ref>

In 2005, he said about Muslims: "If they don't like our way of life, there is a simple remedy: go to another country, get out. There are plenty of other countries whose way of life would appear to be more conducive to what they aspire to. They would be happy and we would be happy".<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.scotsman.com/news/politics/muslims-who-hate-us-can-get-out-says-tory-1-727059 |title=Muslims who hate us can get out, says Tory |work=The Scotsman |date=3 August 2005 |access-date=22 September 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180922135547/https://www.scotsman.com/news/politics/muslims-who-hate-us-can-get-out-says-tory-1-727059 |archive-date=22 September 2018 |url-status=live }}</ref>

After [[British Airways]] in November 2006 indicated that a member of its check-in staff would not be permitted to display a cross over her uniform, Howarth announced his decision to boycott the [[flag carrier]] and said that "the idea that somehow it has become unacceptable to demonstrate that (Christian) faith is bizarre...the cross is a modest symbol. It is not an aggressive or provocative gesture... it is a quiet demonstration of faith".<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/news/article-23375379-details/Second%20minister%20to%20boycott%20BA%20in%20growing%20row%20over%20Christian%20worker/article.do|title=Second minister to boycott BA in growing row over Christian worker|date=21 November 2006|work=[[London Evening Standard|Evening Standard]]|access-date=7 August 2009|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080505074811/http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/news/article-23375379-details/Second%20minister%20to%20boycott%20BA%20in%20growing%20row%20over%20Christian%20worker/article.do|archive-date=5 May 2008}}</ref>

In August 2014, he warned about the dangers of immigration to Britain as he perceives them in a leaked e-mail to a constituent and declared that [[Enoch Powell]] was right in his anti-immigration [[Rivers of Blood speech|"rivers of blood" speech]] in April 1968: "Clearly, the arrival of so many people of non-Christian faith has presented a challenge, as so many of us, including the late Enoch Powell, warned decades ago".<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/tory-mp-gerald-howarth-says-enoch-powell-was-right-in-notorious-rivers-of-blood-speech-9693849.html|title=Tory MP Gerald Howarth says Enoch Powell 'was right' in notorious Rivers of Blood speech|date=27 August 2014|work=The Independent|location=London|access-date=27 August 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140828051935/http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/tory-mp-gerald-howarth-says-enoch-powell-was-right-in-notorious-rivers-of-blood-speech-9693849.html|archive-date=28 August 2014|url-status=live}}</ref>

=== Homosexuals ===
In 2000, he described the lifting of the ban on homosexuals in the military as "appalling" and went on to state that the "decision will be greeted with dismay, particularly by "ordinary" soldiers in Her Majesty's forces, many of whom joined the services precisely because they wished to turn their backs on some of the values of modern society".<ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/599810.stm |title=Services gay ban lifted |work=BBC News |date=12 January 2000 |access-date=22 September 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040702185243/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/599810.stm |archive-date=2 July 2004 |url-status=live }}</ref>

In 2005 he criticised the [[gay]] Labour Minister [[Peter Mandelson]] because his life-partner, Reinaldo Avila da Silva, a Brazilian translator who had been living in the UK for seven years, had received British citizenship. Howarth described Avila da Silva as Mandelson's 'consort', who was less deserving of citizenship than others.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.scotsman.com/news/uk/mandelson-partner-in-citizenship-row-1-1094452|title=Mandelson partner in citizenship row|website=www.scotsman.com|language=en|access-date=21 February 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170222061142/http://www.scotsman.com/news/uk/mandelson-partner-in-citizenship-row-1-1094452|archive-date=22 February 2017|url-status=live}}</ref>

On 20 May 2013, whilst debating the [[Marriage (Same Sex Couples) Bill]], Howarth warned of "the aggressive homosexual community who see this as but a stepping stone to something even further." Howarth did not elaborate on what "something further" would be.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-22588954|title=Gay marriage: Deal to allow bill to proceed in Parliament|date=20 May 2013|work=BBC News|access-date=21 May 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130521014049/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-22588954|archive-date=21 May 2013|url-status=live}}</ref>

=== Expenses ===
Following the expenses scandal of 2009, Howarth said that he had "acted within the rules" set out by the House of Commons, but nonetheless repaid expenses identified by Sir Thomas Legg as being unreasonable.<ref>{{cite news |last=Castle |first=Pete |title=MP meets expenses row with defiance |url=http://www.gethampshire.co.uk/news/s/2050905_mp_meets_expenses_row_with_defiance |date=15 May 2009 |work=Get Hampshire |access-date=7 August 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090522133733/http://www.gethampshire.co.uk/news/s/2050905_mp_meets_expenses_row_with_defiance |archive-date=22 May 2009}}</ref>

=== Honours and appointments ===

After the [[2012 British cabinet reshuffle|2012 reshuffle]], he was recommended for a knighthood and was appointed a [[Knight Bachelor]] on 20 September 2012.<ref>{{cite news |date=12 September 2012 |author=Tim Harris |work=Get Hampshire |url= http://www.gethampshire.co.uk/news/s/2120415_gerald_howarth_recommended_for_knighthood |title=Gerald Howarth 'recommended for knighthood' |access-date=28 November 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20121030191731/http://www.gethampshire.co.uk/news/s/2120415_gerald_howarth_recommended_for_knighthood |archive-date=30 October 2012}}</ref><ref>{{London Gazette |issue=60274 |date=20 September 2012 |page=1 }}</ref>

In April 2013, he was appointed chairman of the Thatcherite campaign group [[Conservative Way Forward]].<ref>{{cite news |last=Hope |first=Christopher |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/politics/conservative/9967112/Former-Coalition-defence-minister-takes-over-Margaret-Thatcher-legacy-group-to-fight-defence-cuts.html |title=Former Coalition defence minister takes over Margaret Thatcher legacy group to fight defence cuts |work=The Daily Telegraph |location=London |date=2 April 2013 |access-date=4 April 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130407005612/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/politics/conservative/9967112/Former-Coalition-defence-minister-takes-over-Margaret-Thatcher-legacy-group-to-fight-defence-cuts.html |archive-date=7 April 2013 |url-status=live }}</ref>

===Whistleblowing===
Howarth is now the chairman of Addveritas – advisers on [[whistleblowing]].{{cn|date=August 2021}}

==Notes==
{{Reflist}}

==References==
* Copping, Robert, ''The Story of the Monday Club – The First Decade'', Current Affairs Information Service, London, April 1972, (P/B).
* ''[[Dod's Parliamentary Companion]]'' 1991, 172nd edition, London. {{ISBN|0-905702-17-4}}
* Ellis, Dr.Frank, ''The Macpherson Report: 'Anti-racist' Hysteria and the Sovietization of the United Kingdom'', published by Right Now Press Ltd., London, 2001,(P/B), {{ISBN|0-9540534-0-0}}

== External links ==
{{Commons category}}
*{{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20130224030858/http://www.geraldhowarth.org/ Gerald Howarth MP]}} ''official constituency website''
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20130605070315/http://www.conservatives.com/People/Members_of_Parliament/Howarth_Gerald.aspx Gerald Howarth MP] Conservative Party profile
*[http://www.aldershotconservatives.com/ Aldershot and North Hampshire Conservatives]
*{{UK MP links | parliament = sir-gerald-howarth/47 | hansard = mr-gerald-howarth | guardian = 2544/gerald-howarth | publicwhip = Gerald_Howarth | theywork = gerald_howarth | record = Gerald-Howarth/Aldershot/1033 | bbc = 25505.stm | journalisted = }}
*{{C-SPAN|1000919}}

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{{s-new | constituency }}
{{s-ttl
  | title  = [[Member of Parliament (United Kingdom)|Member of Parliament]] for [[Cannock and Burntwood (UK Parliament constituency)|Cannock and Burntwood]]
  | years  = [[1983 United Kingdom general election|1983]]–[[1992 United Kingdom general election|1992]]
}}
{{s-aft | after  = [[Tony Wright (Staffordshire politician)|Tony Wright]] }}
{{s-bef|before=[[Julian Critchley]]}}
{{s-ttl|title=[[Member of Parliament (United Kingdom)|Member of Parliament]] for [[Aldershot (UK Parliament constituency)|Aldershot]]|years=[[1997 United Kingdom general election|1997]]–[[2017 United Kingdom general election|2017]]}}
{{s-aft|after=[[Leo Docherty]]}}
{{s-end}}
{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Howarth, Gerald}}
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:1947 births]]
[[Category:People educated at Bloxham School]]
[[Category:Alumni of the University of Southampton]]
[[Category:Royal Air Force officers]]
[[Category:Councillors in the London Borough of Hounslow]]
[[Category:Conservative Party (UK) MPs for English constituencies]]
[[Category:UK MPs 1983–1987]]
[[Category:UK MPs 1987–1992]]
[[Category:UK MPs 1997–2001]]
[[Category:UK MPs 2001–2005]]
[[Category:UK MPs 2005–2010]]
[[Category:UK MPs 2010–2015]]
[[Category:UK MPs 2015–2017]]
[[Category:Members of the Freedom Association]]
[[Category:20th-century Royal Air Force personnel]]
[[Category:Knights Bachelor]]