Richard Howitt
Encyclopedia
Richard Howitt is a Member of the European Parliament
for the Labour Party
for the East of England
. He has been a member of the European Parliament
since 1994.
in Politics, Philosophy and Economics from the University of Oxford
in 1982 and has a Postgraduate Diploma in Management Studies from the University of Hertfordshire
.
After leaving university, he worked for four years in the voluntary sector and eight years for a disability organisation.
District Council from 1983 to 1995, including three years as Leader of the council. He was the Labour Party candidate in Billericay
in the 1987 general election
.
He was elected to the European Parliament
, representing the Essex South
constituency, and has served for the East of England
constituency since 1999.
Howitt has been a member of the Labour Party's National Policy Forum
since 1994.
Howitt supported the continuing illegal occupation of the Dale Farm
green-belt site by gypsies.
Member of the European Parliament
A Member of the European Parliament is a person who has been elected to the European Parliament. The name of MEPs differ in different languages, with terms such as europarliamentarian or eurodeputy being common in Romance language-speaking areas.When the European Parliament was first established,...
for the Labour Party
Labour Party (UK)
The Labour Party is a centre-left democratic socialist party in the United Kingdom. It surpassed the Liberal Party in general elections during the early 1920s, forming minority governments under Ramsay MacDonald in 1924 and 1929-1931. The party was in a wartime coalition from 1940 to 1945, after...
for the East of England
East of England (European Parliament constituency)
East of England is a constituency of the European Parliament. It currently elects 7 MEPs using the d'Hondt method of party-list proportional representation.- Boundaries :...
. He has been a member of the European Parliament
European Parliament
The European Parliament is the directly elected parliamentary institution of the European Union . Together with the Council of the European Union and the Commission, it exercises the legislative function of the EU and it has been described as one of the most powerful legislatures in the world...
since 1994.
Background
Howitt was brought up in a single parent family, in a council house and went to a comprehensive school. He graduated with a BA degreeBachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
in Politics, Philosophy and Economics from the University of Oxford
University of Oxford
The University of Oxford is a university located in Oxford, United Kingdom. It is the second-oldest surviving university in the world and the oldest in the English-speaking world. Although its exact date of foundation is unclear, there is evidence of teaching as far back as 1096...
in 1982 and has a Postgraduate Diploma in Management Studies from the University of Hertfordshire
University of Hertfordshire
The University of Hertfordshire is a new university based largely in Hatfield, in the county of Hertfordshire, England, from which the university takes its name. It has more than 27,500 students, over 2500 staff, with a turnover of over £181m...
.
After leaving university, he worked for four years in the voluntary sector and eight years for a disability organisation.
Political activity
Howitt served as a councillor on HarlowHarlow
Harlow is a new town and local government district in Essex, England. It is located in the west of the county and on the border with Hertfordshire, on the Stort Valley, The town is near the M11 motorway and forms part of the London commuter belt.The district has a current population of 78,889...
District Council from 1983 to 1995, including three years as Leader of the council. He was the Labour Party candidate in Billericay
Billericay (UK Parliament constituency)
Billericay was a constituency represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. It elected one Member of Parliament by the first past the post system of election.It returned Conservative MPs at every election except 1966....
in the 1987 general election
United Kingdom general election, 1987
The United Kingdom general election of 1987 was held on 11 June 1987, to elect 650 members to the British House of Commons. The election was the third consecutive election victory for the Conservative Party under the leadership of Margaret Thatcher, who became the first Prime Minister since the 2nd...
.
He was elected to the European Parliament
European Parliament
The European Parliament is the directly elected parliamentary institution of the European Union . Together with the Council of the European Union and the Commission, it exercises the legislative function of the EU and it has been described as one of the most powerful legislatures in the world...
, representing the Essex South
Essex South (European Parliament constituency)
Essex South was a constituency of the European Parliament located in the United Kingdom, electing one Member of the European Parliament by the first-past-the-post electoral system. Created in 1994 from parts of Essex South West and Essex North East, it was abolished in 1999 on the adoption of...
constituency, and has served for the East of England
East of England (European Parliament constituency)
East of England is a constituency of the European Parliament. It currently elects 7 MEPs using the d'Hondt method of party-list proportional representation.- Boundaries :...
constituency since 1999.
Howitt has been a member of the Labour Party's National Policy Forum
National Policy Forum
The National Policy Forum of the British Labour Party is part of the policy-making system of the Party, set up by Leader Tony Blair as part of the Partnership in Power process....
since 1994.
Howitt supported the continuing illegal occupation of the Dale Farm
Dale Farm
Dale Farm is a plot of land on Oak Lane in Crays Hill, Essex, United Kingdom.Until October 2011, it was an Irish Traveller halting site which had been established without planning permission...
green-belt site by gypsies.