Robert Howarth

Robert Lever Howarth (31 July 1927 – 2 April 2021) was a British politician from Bolton who was a Member of Parliament (MP) for Bolton East from 1964 to 1970.

Early life and career Howarth was born in July 1927, the son of James Howarth and Bessie (née Pearson). He attended Bolton County Grammar School and then went to Bolton Technical College, where he trained as a draughtsman. He joined the Amalgamated Engineering Union in 1943 and the Labour Party in 1945. The following year, he became a member of the trade union Draughtsmen and Allied Technicians Union (DATA). He was a draughtsman with Hawker Siddeley Dynamics.

Local government Popular within the local party, Howarth was elected President of Bolton Labour Party. He was made a School and Technical College Governor in 1955 and served on Bolton Town Council from 1958 to 1960, being Vice-Chairman of the Housing Committee. He was the Labour candidate for the Conservative-held seat of Bolton East at the 1960 by-election, but lost by 641 votes. However, he was reselected to fight the following general election. In 1963 he was again elected to Bolton Town Council, serving until 1966 and becoming Vice-Chairman of the Planning Committee.

Howarth was Deputy Chairman of Manchester Airport from 1986 to 1987, becoming Chairman from 1987 to 1988, and again from 2002 to 2003. In 2001, Howarth was made a Freeman of Bolton Metropolitan Borough Council, and in 2004, he was made an Honorary Alderman of the Borough.