Michael Howard(VI)

Michael Howard was born on 7 July, 1941 in the Welsh mining village of Gorseinon, Carmarthenshire. He is the son of Hilda (Kershion) and Bernat Hecht, later Bernard Howard, who owned a number of ladies' dress shops in Swansea and Llanelli. His father was born in Ruscova, Maramures County, Romania, where he grew up in Transylvania, and came to the U.K. in 1939. Both of Michael's parents were from Jewish families. In 1959, he went to Cambridge University - initially to read Economics, but later transferring to Law. He was called to the Bar in 1964, and practiced as a barrister until 1983 - being promoted to recorder (part-time Judge).

He stood, as a Conservative, for the seat of Edge Hill in Liverpool, both in 1966 and 1970 - losing on both occasions. He was finally elected as Conservative MP for Folkstone and Hythe in 1983. Upon entering parliament, he was soon known for his right wing views - calling for Britain to withdraw from the European Union and endorsed restoration of the death penalty. He reversed his views on capital punishment, coming out against its reintroduction in 1994. He has also moderated his Euroscepticism, much to the anger of the Conservative right (e.g. Norman Tebbit).

In 1990, he entered John Major's cabinet as Employment Secretary- becoming Environment Secretary in 1992, and then Home Secretary in 1993. As Home Secretary, he became unpopular with some - due to his draconian measures in the fight against rising crime. In 1997, upon the Conservatives losing the election, he became Shadow Foreign Secretary - retiring in 1999. He had stood for election for the Party Leadership in 1997, but withdrew after criticism by fellow Tory MP Ann Widdecombe, who had previously been his junior at the Home Office.

In 2001, when Iain Duncan Smith was elected leader of the Conservative Party he returned to the Shadow Cabinet as Shadow Chancellor, and upon Duncan Smith's demise in 2003, he was elected unopposed as Leader of the Conservative Party and Her Majesty's Opposition. In 2005, he faced against Labour's Tony Blair in the general election, losing and later resigning his leadership, replaced eventually by David Cameron.