Denis Herbert Howell, Baron Howell (4 September 1923 – 19 April 1998) was a British Labour Party politician.
Born in Birmingham, Howell was educated at Handsworth Grammar School, Birmingham and became a clerk and chairman of the Clerical and Administrative Workers Union standing orders committee. He was a Football League referee and keen cricketer. He served as a councillor on Birmingham City Council 1946-56 and was Labour Group secretary from 1950.
Howell contested Birmingham King's Norton in 1951. He was Member of Parliament (MP) for Birmingham All Saints from 1955 to 1959, and for Birmingham Small Heath from the 1961 by-election until his retirement in 1992. He held several ministerial posts under the Wilson and Callaghan governments, including Sport (1964—70), Education and Science (1964—1969), Housing and Local Government (1969—1970), the Environment (1974—1979) and for Sport and Recreation (1974—1979).
On 28 October 1974, his wife and son escaped unharmed when an IRA bomb exploded in their Ford Cortina on the driveway of the family home in Birmingham.[1]
He was made Minister for Drought in 1976 (but nicknamed 'Minister for Rain'[1]), which had the driest summer in over 200 years, but days later heavy rainfall caused widespread flooding, and he was made Minister of Floods.[2] Additionally, during the harsh winter of 1978-79 he was appointed Minister for Snow.[3]
He published his memoirs, Made in Birmingham, in 1990, and in 1992 he was made a life peer as Baron Howell, of Aston Manor in the City of Birmingham. He died in Solihull, aged 74.
His son, Andrew Howell, would be elected to Birmingham City Council for Moseley and Kings Heath Ward serving as Chair of the Education Committee and also Deputy Leader.
| Parliament of the United Kingdom | ||
|---|---|---|
| New constituency | Member of Parliament for Birmingham All Saints 1955 – 1959 |
Succeeded by John Hollingworth |
| Preceded by William Wheeldon |
Member of Parliament for Birmingham Small Heath 1961 – 1992 |
Succeeded by Roger Godsiff |
| Political offices | ||
| Preceded by Quintin Hogg |
Minister for Sport 1964–1970 |
Succeeded by Eldon Griffiths |
| Preceded by Eldon Griffiths |
Minister for Sport 1974–1979 |
Succeeded by Hector Monro |
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