Knowsley has paid tribute to Sir George Howarth, who has died.
Sir George Howarth was Knowsley’s longest serving MP, representing the borough for nearly 38 years until his retirement in 2024.
Sir George was born in Knowsley, and became a councillor in the area at the age of just 22. He went on to hold ministerial office, earn a knighthood and even a place on the Privy Council.
In recognition of his decades of service to the area, Sir George was awarded Freedom of the Borough of Knowsley in 2022, the highest honour the council can bestow, and something he described as “the honour I most cherish.”
His political career started in 1971 when he was elected to Huyton District Council. When local government was reorganised in 1974, he continued on the newly created Knowsley Borough Council, serving until 1986. During those 15 years as a local councillor he chaired both the Housing Committee and the Finance Committee, and served as Deputy Leader of Knowsley Borough Council in 1982–83.
Sir George entered Parliament on 13 November 1986, winning the Knowsley North by-election triggered by the resignation of Robert Kilroy-Silk. He won with a majority of 6,724, and held the seat continuously through successive boundary changes. He served as Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State at the Home Office from 1997 to 1999, and then at the Northern Ireland Office from 1999 to 2001.
George Howarth MP speaks at the unveiling of the With Thanks to Harold artwork
In his retirement statement, Sir George said: “After over 30 years as a Knowsley MP, it is the right time for a new candidate for our party in Knowsley. Being the MP for the area I grew up in has been a great privilege and an enormous honour.”
Throughout nearly four decades as an MP, Sir George was a tireless local advocate. His constituency work touched on many of the key issues facing Knowsley’s towns. He was a sustained and prominent champion of the Shakespeare North Playhouse project in Prescot, his birthplace. He led Westminster Hall debates promoting the project, and hosted a Parliamentary reception attended by Dame Judi Dench, with the Shakespeare North Trust Chair publicly thanking him for his ongoing support. Sir George said: “Along with Knowsley Council I was always confident that if we raised the capital needed for this project, the impact it would have would be incredible.” The Playhouse opened in Prescot on 15 July 2022, and has been attracting thousands of visitors to the borough ever since.
Sir George was also a vocal supporter of justice for the victims of Hillsborough, and their families. Representing a constituency deeply affected by the 1989 disaster, he supported the Hillsborough Law Now Campaign, signed the Early Day Motion backing the Real Truth Legacy Project, and supported calls for the Hillsborough disaster to be included in the National Curriculum.
A father of three, also championed healthcare causes close to his heart. After losing his daughter Sián to complications from Type 1 diabetes in 2011, he became a tireless advocate for better diabetes care, raising awareness in Parliament and serving as Vice Chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Diabetes.
He was appointed to the Privy Council in recognition of his ministerial service in 2005 and was knighted in Queen Elizabeth’s 2019 Birthday Honours for his parliamentary and political service.
George Howarth receiving Freedom of the Borough of Knowsley in 2022.
Cllr Graham Morgan, Leader of Knowsley Council, said: “Sir George was an outstanding advocate for Knowsley throughout his life, giving more than five decades of service to the people of Knowsley. He championed numerous causes close to the hearts of his constituents and supported major projects such as the Shakespeare North Playhouse.
“Having served as a councillor, and even as deputy leader of Knowsley Council before he entered parliament, he was someone who really understood the borough and passionately wanted the very best for the area and local people.
He leaves a lasting legacy in the borough he was so proud to have grown up in, and to represent.”