Dr Kim Howells

Plain-speaking politician and art critic

Born:

27 NOV 1946

Place of Birth:

Merthyr Tydfil

School:

Mountain Ash Grammar School

Famous For:

Plain-speaking politician and art critic

"If this is the best British artists can produce then British art is lost. It is cold, mechanical, conceptual bull****." Dr Kim Howells

Trivia:

Disturbed an early morning burglar at his home in 1992 and chased him down the street brandishing a broom.

Biography:

The former student firebrand used his role as a junior culture minister to take a swipe at Turner Prize contenders, folk music, and the arts elite - and blames rap musicians for gun culture.

The son of a Communist lorry driver, Howells was caught up in the revolutionary atmosphere of the late 1960s while a student at Hornsey College of Art. Like many of his contemporaries, he was involved in "sit-ins" and other demonstrations before becoming disillusioned with student politics.

Returning to his native Wales, Howells began work as a lecturer and a researcher into coalfield issues, coming to prominence during the miners' strike of 1984-5 as an NUM research officer who spoke out against Arthur Scargill.

Howells was elected Labour MP for Pontypridd in a by-election in 1989 and became an opposition spokesman on a range of issues, winning a junior education post following Labour's election victory in 1997.

His outspoken nature came to the fore shortly before the 2001 election when as Consumer and Corporate Affairs Minister he was drawn into the row over the business activities of the Countess of Wessex. He described the Royal Family as "all a bit bonkers" who shouldn't be subsidised by the taxpayer.

But his appointment as Minister for Tourism, Film and Broadcasting gave the former art student a platform from which to attack a string of cultural targets:

The Welsh film industry - accused of a "ghetto mentality" creating images of "racial purity" through arthouse movies;

British filmmakers - "a very small miserable bunch of chattering classes ... ashamed to be associated with hugely profitable films";

The "crachach" culture of Welsh arts - "in the grip of a bunch of constipated old wrinklies for far too long";

English folk music - "for a simple urban boy such as me, the idea of listening to three Somerset folk singers sounds like hell";

The Turner Prize contenders - "cold, mechanical, conceptual bull****";

"Idiot macho rappers" for "glorifying gun culture and violence"

Although former Prime Minister Tony Blair was said to find Howells stimulating company, he may have committed the cardinal sin of appearing to enjoy his arts ministerial brief too much.

He was moved to transport and later the Foreign Office before losing his ministerial post in Gordon Brown's October 2008 reshuffle.

But Howells will continue to have influence in his new role as chairman of Parliament's Security and Intelligence Committee.

Moment of Glory:

First protester to breach the police cordon at the demonstration against the Vietnam War outside the US Embassy in Grosvenor Square in 1968.

Off the Record:

Did he really star in a risque student movie during his college years?

your comments

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Captain Trauma from Stirling
Whatever questionable things he's done in his past his views on Afghanistan are spot on - how many more of the like of us have to do our duty for such a pointless place based on a non existent strategy. We should all support him in this and I hope it emboldens others, whilst not doubting the bravery of our troops, to state the obvious that Afghanistan is not worth fighting for!

Brian. Penarth
I may well be mistaken, but wasn't it his idea to make anyone, even a drunken duo at the pub bar, have to have an insurance policy? This put the damper on many a charity occasion I believe.

Machiavelli, Cambridge
Howells has realised his long term ambtion and as a result of his not inconsiderable efforts has become a part of the status quo, now he has something to lose, so what did you expect? There are no more Tam Dalyells, Tony Benns and politicians that are driven by a sense of fairness to represent the views and needs of the lower echelons of society. What we have now is a class of career politicians who are dedicated to never ever slithering back down the greasy pole. The Valleys Boyo has probably pleased his parents with his personal achievment but has disillusioned his one-time supporters by not being true to his electioneering rhetoric. Still it beats bloodshed in the streets but it is such a shame that humans place so little value on their integrity and honesty.

Richard from Melbourne, Australia
Dr (what of?) Kim Howells is an embarrassment to all right thinking people. His spineless defence of Israeli murder in Gaza should be read by all aspiring thespians wishing to portray yellow jellied personalities...

Jack C, Pontypridd
Please can anyone tell me what Kim Howells has done for Pontypridd since he became an MP.

Adrian from Bristol
I could not agree more with Dave from Cwmbran. Spot on. Kim Howells is one of the best examples of someone who has made a career from having NO principles whatsoever and milking his so called 'Welsh firebrand' roots. Scargill and the miners lost because of the refusal of people like Howells and Kinnock to support them. This was a tragedy. That's why the coal industry is now a pathetic rump. That's why the Labour party ended up following the route for power based on appealing to Sun readers and not taking the really 'tough decision' which would have been to go out and argue for socialist principles. The miners stike was a watershed. Now what do we have. Blair, chaos in Iraq and Howells blindly following until he bocomes Lord Howells. How many ex-miners will deserve your pension Kim?

Dave (ex Llantrisant)
I have direct experience of Dr Howells as he is my constituency MP, which leaves me in the position that when he says 'Good Morning' I reach for my pyjamas and get ready for bed.

Tom O' Hara Tonyrefail
Kim Howells has slaveishly followed Blair's every step on every major issue including the war on Iraq, removing our civil liberties and all that goes with it. The question is, has Howells lost all of his principles or did he fool us for all these years pretending that he actually had any?

George Blackmore ex - Pontypridd
Well the role of Transport Minister under Blair will be right up Kim's street as he has some knowledge of how to stop taxi's taking innocent men to work and how to lie to the public and police!

Rog from Pontypridd
How can Dave from Cwmbran say Kim Howells is a disgrace. It was Scargill who was a disgrace. His fanaticism and going toe-to-toe with Thatcher ruined the mining industry. Much could have been gained by shrewd negotiators - Scargill was not of that ilk. Kim Howells had the guts to speak out ... if there had been more like him and if they had prevailed we might still have had a coal industry and not the pathetic rump that is left now. As the arts minister Kim said it all when he rails against the bull**** that so many try to palm off in the name of art. Keep on saying it like it is Kim.

Christine Palmer nee Evans in British Columbia, Ca
I remember him from Junior School in Penywaun, Aberdare. Even at that tender age he was interested in politics and stood out from the rest of us. It is so good to see he hasn't lost his ability to stand up for something he believes in.

Dave from Cwmbran
Kim Howells was and remains a careerist disgrace. His role in the Miners' Strike was a disgrace and how he has the nerve to portray a working class boyo image when he loves the trappings of power are beyond contempt. A turncoat of the worse type.

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