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Michael Howard: Conservative Party
A senior Minister during Thatcher and Major's reign, he became leader of the Conservative Party on November 6, 2003.
Michael Howard, born on July 7, 1941 is MP for Folkestone and Hythe and the current Leader of the Opposition in the United Kingdom. A senior Minister during Thatcher and Major's reign, he became leader of the Conservative Party on November 6, 2003.
He introduced the motion for unpopular poll tax. However his tough stand on law and order policies earned him a bad reputation. After 1987 elections, he became Minister for Local Government but became involved in two major political controversies.
Howard was soon appointed as Secretary of State for the Home Department in a 1993 reshuffle following the sacking of Norman Lamont. His tenure was especially notable for his tough approach to crime leading to his repeated clash with judges and prison reformers. His image was tarnished in 1996 when a critical inquiry into a series of prison escapes became public.
Howard was named Parliamentarian of the Year for 2003 by The Spectator and Zurich UK . A tough contender for the 2005 elections, if elected he plans to impose a quota on asylum-seekers.
