James Howard

James Philip Christopher Howard (1910-1990) was a Bancairn politician and 23rd Prime Minister of Bancairn.

Early life
James Howard, great-great-great-grandchild of Henry Howard II, and member of the great Howard family, grew up in the tradition Howard settlement of Port Sarah, where he was born. His father, Russell Howard, was an influential member of Parliament for Avryshire. His mother, Elizabeth, was often absent and bed-ridden having chronic migraines and fevers. As a result, James would spend most of his time as a child with his few friends, like Peter Miswenian and Kenneth Decken. As they grew older, the three friends took an oath to bring back the Conservatives as leading power of the nation. From 1925 to 1928, James Howard attended the Regis Academy, a private school in Deaston. During this time, he lodged with Francis Rover's family. Howard was considered an excellent student at Regis, and became sports captain as well as Head Boy.

Military service and medical career
From 1928 to 1931, Howard served in North Africa and India as a surgeon, which later earned him the title "Dr.", though this was never mentioned in his later honorary title in Parliament or Government. During this period, Howard wrote How us Tories Fall, a bitter critique of previous Conservative Governments, calling them "elitist" and "aristocratic", and severely judged the Amesby Ministry, in particular its handling of World War I. He also began work on two books, one about his service in Africa, and another about the Nile river; both works were never completed.

Further studies and political involvement
On returning from India in 1931, James Howard joined the newly founded Royal Academy of Politics, which offered courses in political and social sciences. He did this against the will of his mother, who wished him to become a lawyer. James came out of the Academy three years later, once again with excellent results. He joined the Conservative Party in 1934, and began to make himself known as Party Treasurer. Elections being at the time a competitive period inside the Party, Howard quickly built himself a case to compete with possible rivals, and, with the help of Rover and Miswenian, thatched the Conservative Manifesto, which was falling to bits and had not been updated for a decade. Howard became a chief political theorist and advisor to the party. In 1939, when Francis Rover was elected Minister of Economy, Howard contributed the economic theories which were later acclaimed by the public.

World War II
When the Second World War broke out, Howard clearly stated his opposition on sending troops over to defend Britain, but encouraged the collection of material and food for the allied civilians during the Blitz.

The 1946 General Elections
In 1946, Rover was shifted to the Ministry of Defence, and James Howard was elected to the House of Commons as a representative for Avryshire. There, he immediately demonstrated his rhetoric skills, and was Deputy leader from 1948 to 1950.

The 1950 General Elections
In August 1950, Francis Rover and party President Reginald Kewell prepared Howard's campaign as Minister for Internal Affairs. During his mandate as Home Minister, he was successful in countering Prime Minister John Gillard's policies on employment.

The 1953 General Elections
In 1953, Howard was greenlighted by the Party to run for Prime Minister. He came second to Albert van Christen, and became State Secretary. His mandate with Christen, he said, was based on "a very good communication, as it should always between elected members of Government".

The 1956 General Elections
In 1956, James Howard campaigned once again for the premiership, and won, owing to his rising popularity and innovative policy ideas.

Prime Minister (1956-1959)
James Howard began his term as Prime Minister by introducing the Howard Bill, a Government Motion aiming to increase worker protection and reduce unemployment. However, in 1958, Howard was confronted to Government corruption and feared a Government collapse after Delegate to the Ministry of Energy John Steele was reported in the Bancairn Express to have received regular sums of money from the NAPC (see Steele corruption affair). Howard revoked Steele; the Minister for Energy, Warner Soleman, suddenly decided to resign, against Howard's advice. He finally replaced him with Gerald Gaven, a fellow Conservative. After these events, Howard relaxed his policies and assumed "business as usual" in Government. However, things became worse.