Douglas Houghton, Baron Houghton of Sowerby

The Right Honourable The Lord Houghton of Sowerby CH PC
Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster
In office 18 October 1964 – 6 April 1966
Prime Minister	Harold Wilson
Preceded by	The Lord Blakenham
Succeeded by	George Thomson

Arthur Leslie Noel Douglas Houghton, Baron Houghton of Sowerby, CH, PC (11 August 1898 – 2 May 1996) was a British Labour politician. He was the last British Cabinet minister born in the 19th century. After he retired in 1967, every Cabinet minister has been born since 1900. He was also the last veteran of World War I to serve in the Cabinet and both Houses of Parliament.

Houghton was born in Long Eaton, Derbyshire and fought in the First World War, surviving the Battle of the Somme. He secured a post in the civil service.

Houghton was a great believer in equality of opportunity and campaigned for certain numbers of lower (clerical) grade civil servants to have the chance of taking an examination that could lead to previously unheard-of promotion. In 1922, he founded the Inland Revenue Staff Federation and was its leader from 1922 to 1960. He served on the General Council of the Trades Union Congress from 1952 to 1960, and as Chairman of the Staff Side Civil Service National Whitley Council from 1955 to 1957.

He was a panel member of a BBC radio programme Can I help You? between 1941 and 1964. His connections with the London Labour movement and the Labour Party gave him the profile to become an Alderman of the London County Council - the forerunner of the Greater London Council - from 1947-1949.

After John Belcher quit the House of Commons over accusations of minor dishonesty, Houghton was persuaded to seek nomination for the subsequent by-election. He secured this and on 16 March 1949 was elected to Parliament for the Yorkshire constituency of Sowerby with a majority of 2,152.

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