Michael Howard

Michael Howard was born on 7 July, 1941 in the Welsh mining village of Gorseinon, Carmarthenshire. He is the son of Hilda (Kershion) and Bernat Hecht, later Bernard Howard, who owned a number of ladies' dress shops in Swansea and Llanelli. His father was born in Ruscova, Maramures County, Romania, where he grew up in Transylvania, and came to the U.K. in 1939. Both of Michael's parents were from Jewish families. In 1959, he went to Cambridge University - initially to read Economics, but later transferring to Law. He was called to the Bar in 1964, and practiced as a barrister until 1983 - being promoted to recorder (part-time Judge). He stood, as a Conservative, for the seat of Edge Hill in Liverpool, both in 1966 and 1970 - losing on both occasions. He was finally elected as Conservative MP for Folkstone and Hythe in 1983. Upon entering parliament, he was soon known for his right wing views - calling for Britain to withdraw from the European Union and endorsed restoration of the death