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| The Right Honourable The Lord Fowler PC |
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| In office 2 June 1998 – 15 June 1999 |
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| Leader | William Hague |
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| Preceded by | Brian Mawhinney |
| Succeeded by | Ann Widdecombe |
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| In office 11 April 1992 – 15 July 1994 |
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| Prime Minister | John Major |
| Preceded by | Chris Patten |
| Succeeded by | Jeremy Hanley |
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| In office 13 June 1987 – 3 January 1990 |
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| Prime Minister | Margaret Thatcher |
| Preceded by | David Young |
| Succeeded by | Michael Howard |
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| In office 14 September 1981 – 13 June 1987 |
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| Preceded by | Patrick Jenkin |
| Succeeded by | John Moore |
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| In office 4 May 1979 – 14 September 1981 |
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| Preceded by | Bill Rodgers |
| Succeeded by | David Howell |
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| Born | 2 February 1938 Chelmsford, Essex, UK |
| Political party | Conservative |
(Peter) Norman Fowler, Baron Fowler[1], PC (born 2 February 1938) is a British Conservative politician who was from 1981 to 1990 a member of Margaret Thatcher's Cabinet.
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Early life
He was educated at King Edward VI Grammar School in Chelmsford, in the county of Essex; after which he did National Service as a Second Lieutenant in the Essex Regiment. Whilst studying at Trinity Hall, Cambridge, he was Chairman of the Cambridge University Conservative Association in Michaelmas 1960, in which term he entertained both the Prime Minister Harold Macmillan and Home Secretary (and de facto Deputy Prime Minister, although he did not hold the title until 1962) Rab Butler.
Member of Parliament
In opposition
During the mid 1970s Fowler was shadow Minister of Transport. In April 1976 he was photographed outside the Palace of Westminster having just taken delivery of his third four cylinder MG MGB GT, having reportedly rejected the idea of buying a V8 version on account of the cost.[2] At a time when a recently promoted Minister of Transport had imputed ownership of the family car to his wife, apparently on grounds of political correctness, former journalist Fowler's acknowledgment of his choice of a sports car provided an interesting contrast.
In government
As Secretary of State for Health and Social Security in 1986, Fowler implemented the first official drive to educate the British public to the dangers of AIDS. Edwina Currie (Health) and John Major (Social Security) both served under him as junior ministers.
Backbenches, Retirement and Shadow Cabinet
Fowler later resigned from the cabinet as Employment Secretary in January 1990, becoming the first politician to cite "to spend more time with my (his) family" as his reasoning[3]. Although it was the truth in Fowler's case, the expression later became a smokescreen for politicians who had quit high-profile roles for slightly more dark or controversial reasons.
Having spent more time with his family, Fowler then returned twice to the Conservative front bench, first as Chairman of the Conservative Party from 1992 to 1994, during which time he oversaw the Boundary Changes in the early 1990s, then as Shadow Home Secretary from 1997 to 1999.
In 2001, he was made a life peer as Baron Fowler, of Sutton Coldfield in the County of West Midlands[1].
In 2003, he proposed that the European Union should appoint a high-level coordinator with ambassadorial rank to deal with the AIDS epidemic.[4]
In 2006, he chaired a House of Lords select committee which criticised the use of the television licence fee, which is used to fund the BBC, as a tax.
His book, A Political Suicide (Politico's Publishing ISBN 978-1842-75227-2), was published in 2008 and it was shortlisted for the Channel 4 Political Book of the Year Award.
Work in industry
He has been deeply involved in industry, having been on the board of directors of several companies. Until 24 October 2007, he was Non-Executive Chairman of Aggregate Industries plc. He is a member of the National Union of Journalists[5].
References
- ^ a b [1] London Gazette: no. 56266, p. 1,.
- ^ "News: An MG for Shadow Minister". Autocar vol 144 (nbr 4146): pages 27. date 24 April 1976.
- ^ Norman Fowler (2008-07-05). "Family first". Guardian Unlimited. http://www.guardian.co.uk/lifeandstyle/2008/jul/05/familyandrelationships. Retrieved 2008-09-29.
- ^ Michael White (2003-02-21). "Europe should appoint Aids envoy, peer says". Guardian Unlimited. http://politics.guardian.co.uk/news/story/0,9174,899971,00.html. Retrieved 2008-04-13.
- ^ http://www.londonfreelance.org/fl/0005foi.html?i=flolder&d=2000_05
External links
- Norman Fowler's contributions in Parliament
- "Europe should appoint Aids envoy, peer says" - a Guardian article by Michael White, dated 21 February 2003
| Parliament of the United Kingdom | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by George Perry |
Member of Parliament for Nottingham South 1970–February 1974 |
Constituency abolished |
| Preceded by Geoffrey Lloyd |
Member of Parliament for Sutton Coldfield February 1974–2001 |
Succeeded by Andrew Mitchell |
| Political offices | ||
| Preceded by Bill Rodgers |
Minister of Transport 1979–1981 |
Office abolished |
| New title | Secretary of State for Transport 1981 |
Succeeded by David Howell |
| Preceded by Patrick Jenkin |
Secretary of State for Social Services 1981–1987 |
Succeeded by John Moore |
| Preceded by The Lord Young of Graffham |
Secretary of State for Employment 1987–1990 |
Succeeded by Michael Howard |
| Preceded by Brian Mawhinney |
Shadow Home Secretary 1998–1999 |
Succeeded by Ann Widdecombe |
| Party political offices | ||
| Preceded by Chris Patten |
Chairman of the Conservative Party 1992–1994 |
Succeeded by Jeremy Hanley |
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