Sir Keir Starmer has led tributes across Westminster to Sir George Howarth, the veteran Labour MP and former minister who represented Knowsley for almost 38 years before standing down in 2024, after his death at the age of 77.
Sir George Howarth, the Labour stalwart who represented Merseyside constituencies for almost four decades, has died aged 77, prompting tributes from across Parliament. Sir Keir Starmer praised what he called “a lifetime of public service,” saying: “George served his party, his country, and the people of Knowsley with distinction. My thoughts and those of the entire Labour movement are with his family at this difficult time.” Sir George first entered Parliament in 1986, winning the Knowsley North by-election, and went on to serve as MP for Knowsley until standing down at the 2024 general election.
Nearly Four Decades in Westminster
Sir George’s time in Parliament made him one of Labour’s longest-serving MPs, spanning almost 38 years from his 1986 by-election victory to his retirement in 2024. He had announced in June 2023 that he would not seek re-election, saying that after more than three decades representing Knowsley, the time had come for a new Labour candidate to take over. Throughout his career, Knowsley remained one of Labour’s safest seats; in the 2017 general election, Sir George secured 85% of the vote, one of the largest vote shares won by any MP in modern British politics. At the 2024 election, Labour held the seat comfortably, with his successor, Anneliese Midgley, winning by a majority of 18,319.
Before entering politics, Sir George had trained as an engineer, worked as a teacher, and later became chief executive of the Wales Co-operative Centre.
A Ministerial and Committee Career
Sir George served as a government minister during the early years of Sir Tony Blair’s premiership, first at the Home Office between May 1997 and July 1999, and then at the Northern Ireland Office between July 1999 and June 2001. He later spent a decade, from 2005 to 2015, on Parliament’s Intelligence and Security Committee, helping oversee the work of Britain’s intelligence agencies. He also spent more than ten years as a member of the Panel of Chairs, presiding over Westminster Hall debates and public bill committees. He was made a Privy Counsellor in 2005, entitling him to the title “The Right Honourable,” and was knighted in the 2019 Birthday Honours for his political and parliamentary service.
Tributes From Colleagues
Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle told MPs in the Commons that Sir George’s death was “another sad loss” to the House, recalling that he had campaigned for Sir George during the 1986 by-election that first brought him into Parliament. “Tragically, George got a bad back but we did have a big majority at the end of it,” Sir Lindsay said. “But of course, our thoughts and prayers are with his wife, Julie, and wider family and friends. He was a great politician and it is another sad loss to this House.”
Deputy Labour leader Lucy Powell also paid tribute, describing Sir George as “a lovely man—highly political, values-driven & rooted in his community & family.” She added: “He was a constant presence in Parliament for the near 40 years as an MP, raising issues & offering advice & wisdom. He served on the NEC for many years too & always showed calm judgement. Rest in peace George.”
Anneliese Midgley, who succeeded Sir George as MP for Knowsley in 2024, said: “I am deeply saddened to hear of the passing of my predecessor, Sir George Howarth. My thoughts and prayers are with his wife, Julie, his children, and all his family, friends and former colleagues at this deeply sad time.” Schools minister Catherine McKinnell remembered him as “a wonderful colleague – warm, kind, sharp and funny,” adding that she was “keeping his family and friends in my thoughts at this sad time.”
