Editing Michael Howard (section)

==Retirement==

Howard announced on 17 March  2006 that he would stand down as MP for Folkestone and Hythe at the [[2010 United Kingdom general election|2010 general election]].<ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/4818832.stm |title=Michael Howard stands down as MP |work=BBC News |date=17 March 2006 |access-date=17 April 2010 |archive-date=8 November 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211108112244/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/politics/4818832.stm |url-status=live }}</ref>  
On 13 July 2006 the Conservatives selected [[Damian Collins]] to stand in his place at that election.

On 19 June 2006 it was reported that Howard would become chairman of Diligence Europe, a private intelligence and risk assessment company founded by former [[CIA]] and [[MI5]] members.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.iht.com/articles/2006/06/18/bloomberg/bxshake.php |title=Former Tory leader to head risk firm |work=[[International Herald Tribune]] |date=19 June 2006 |archive-date=2 December 2008 |access-date=27 March 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081202125640/http://www.iht.com/articles/2006/06/18/bloomberg/bxshake.php}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.diligencellc.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=document.home&id=6&object=39 |title=Diligence announces addition of Michael Howard to Advisory Board |publisher=Diligencellc.com |access-date=17 April 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070715211310/http://www.diligencellc.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=document.home&id=6&object=39 |archive-date=15 July 2007 }}</ref>

On 23 October 2006, Howard said that he had voluntarily been questioned as a potential witness as part of the investigation into the [[Cash-for-Honours scandal]] relating to fundraising for the 2005 election campaign. He was not suspected of any criminal activity,<ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/6078788.stm |title=Howard quizzed in honours probe |date=23 October 2006 |work=[[BBC News]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061107170226/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/6078788.stm |archive-date=7 November 2006}}</ref> was not accused of any criminal activity, and gave evidence purely as a witness in an investigation focusing primarily on the Labour Government's use of the peerages system and their party fundraising.
[[File:Michael Howard (cropped).jpg|thumb|upright|Howard in 2010]]
Howard was appointed a Conservative [[life peer]] in the [[2010 Dissolution Honours]] with the title of '''Baron Howard of Lympne''', of [[Lympne]] in the County of Kent.<ref>{{London Gazette |issue=59491 |date=19 July 2010 |page=13713}}</ref><ref name="dissolution-honours">{{cite web|url=http://www.number10.gov.uk/news/latest-news/2010/05/peerages-honours-and-appointments-51162|title=Peerages, honours and appointments|date=28 May 2010|publisher=10 Downing Street|access-date=24 June 2010|archive-date=1 June 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100601013232/http://www.number10.gov.uk/news/latest-news/2010/05/peerages-honours-and-appointments-51162|url-status=live}}</ref> On 20 July 2010, he was formally introduced into the [[House of Lords]] by past colleague [[Norman Lamont]], and attended Questions and debate later that day.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://services.parliament.uk/calendar/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071210102925/http://services.parliament.uk/calendar/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=2007-12-10 |title=House of Lords Future Business |date=20 July 2010 |website=parliament.uk}}</ref>

In 2010, David Cameron wanted Howard to join his [[Conservative-Liberal Democrat coalition]], possibly as [[Lord Chancellor]], via the House of Lords as part of David Cameron's appeal to rightwing Tories. However, it did not happen, Howard having criticised the government's proposal for a 'rehabilitation revolution'.<ref>{{cite news| url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/politics/conservative/8037566/Top-100-most-influential-Right-wingers-75-51.html | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101006214337/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/politics/conservative/8037566/Top-100-most-influential-Right-wingers-75-51.html | url-status=dead | archive-date=6 October 2010 | location=London | work=The Daily Telegraph | first1=Iain | last1=Dale | first2=Brian | last2=Brivati | author-link2 = Brian Brivati|title=Top 100 most influential Right-wingers: 75-51 | date=4 October 2010}}</ref>

[[File:Companion of Honour.jpg|thumb|left|100px|Insignia of a [[Member of the Order of the Companions of Honour]], which Howard became in 2011]]
In February 2011 there was increased speculation that Cameron would reshuffle his cabinet, with Lord Howard brought in to replace [[Kenneth Clarke]] as [[Secretary of State for Justice]]. Instead, [[Chris Grayling]] was appointed.<ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.theguardian.com/law/2011/feb/20/kenneth-clarke-european-court-reform | location=London | work=The Guardian | first=Allegra | last=Stratton | title=Kenneth Clarke offers hope to Tory critics of human rights court | date=20 February 2011 | access-date=15 December 2016 | archive-date=27 September 2016 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160927191719/https://www.theguardian.com/law/2011/feb/20/kenneth-clarke-european-court-reform | url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2011/feb/19/tory-mps-david-cameron-reshuffle?INTCMP=SRCH | location=London | work=The Guardian | first=Toby | last=Helm | title=Tory MPs press David Cameron for cabinet reshuffle | date=19 February 2011 | access-date=15 December 2016 | archive-date=3 April 2017 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170403195402/https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2011/feb/19/tory-mps-david-cameron-reshuffle?INTCMP=SRCH | url-status=live }}</ref>

Howard was appointed a [[Member of the Order of the Companions of Honour]] in the [[2011 Birthday Honours]] for public and political services.<ref>{{London Gazette |issue=59808 |date=11 June 2011|page=26 |supp=y}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cabinetoffice.gov.uk/news/queen%E2%80%99s-birthday-honours-list-2011 |title=The Queen's Birthday Honours List 2011 |access-date=2011-06-11 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120609144934/http://www.cabinetoffice.gov.uk/news/queen%E2%80%99s-birthday-honours-list-2011 |archive-date=9 June 2012 |df=dmy }} Cabinet Office, 11 June 2011.</ref>

A few days after [[Article 50]] was triggered for the United Kingdom to leave the European Union, Howard was interviewed on 2 April 2017 by [[Sophy Ridge]] for her programme on [[Sky News]].  He compared the post-[[Brexit]] situation of Gibraltar's disputed sovereignty with Spain with the resolution of a similar issue by the [[Falklands War]] in 1982. Howard said he was "absolutely certain" [[Theresa May]] "will show the same resolve in standing by the people of Gibraltar" as Margaret Thatcher had done in the South Atlantic. Leading figures from the other parties rejected this viewpoint.<ref>{{cite news|last=Asthana|first=Anushka|url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2017/apr/02/britain-and-eu-worse-off-without-brexit-deal-says-michael-fallon|title=Theresa May would go to war to protect Gibraltar, Michael Howard says|work=The Guardian|date=2 April 2017|access-date=3 April 2017|archive-date=2 April 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170402225014/https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2017/apr/02/britain-and-eu-worse-off-without-brexit-deal-says-michael-fallon|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=Peck|first=Tom|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/brexit-gibraltar-falklands-war-senior-conservatives-fallon-howard-a7662656.html|title=Brexit could turn Gibraltar in to the next Falklands, senior Conservatives suggest|work=The Independent|date=2 April 2017|access-date=3 April 2017|archive-date=2 April 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170402210231/http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/brexit-gibraltar-falklands-war-senior-conservatives-fallon-howard-a7662656.html|url-status=live}}</ref> A spokesman for Number 10 said such a conflict "isn't going to happen".<ref>{{cite news|last=Watts|first=Joe|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/downing-street-michael-howard-gibraltar-war-spain-uk-territory-brexit-eu-theresa-may-a7664246.html|title=Downing Street defends ex-Tory leader Michael Howard's claim UK would go to war with Spain over Gibraltar|work=The Independent|date=3 April 2017|access-date=3 April 2017|archive-date=3 April 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170403125152/http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/downing-street-michael-howard-gibraltar-war-spain-uk-territory-brexit-eu-theresa-may-a7664246.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

In June 2022, Howard called on [[Boris Johnson]] to resign as Prime Minister.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2022-06-24 |title=By-election defeats: Ex-leader Michael Howard calls for Boris Johnson to go |language=en-GB |work=BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-politics-61922077 |access-date=2022-06-26}}</ref>

===Criticism of Somali business interests===
In 2015, [[Soma Oil & Gas]], which Howard chairs, was investigated by the [[Serious Fraud Office (United Kingdom)|Serious Fraud Office]].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/report-raises-questions-over-somali-dealings-of-firm-headed-by-u-k-s-michael-howard-1440529699|title=Report Raises Questions Over Somali Dealings of Firm Headed by U.K.'s Michael Howard|author=Justin Scheck and Jenny Gross|work=Wall Street Journal|date=25 August 2015|access-date=10 January 2016|archive-date=2 January 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160102131823/http://www.wsj.com/articles/report-raises-questions-over-somali-dealings-of-firm-headed-by-u-k-s-michael-howard-1440529699|url-status=live}}</ref> On 14 December 2016, the SFO closed its investigation of Soma, citing insufficient evidence of corruption.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://blogs.wsj.com/riskandcompliance/2016/12/15/serious-fraud-office-closes-corruption-investigation-of-soma-oil/|title=Serious Fraud Office Closes Corruption Investigation of Soma Oil|work=WSJ Risk and Compliance Journal|date=15 December 2016|access-date=12 January 2017|archive-date=16 January 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170116163503/http://blogs.wsj.com/riskandcompliance/2016/12/15/serious-fraud-office-closes-corruption-investigation-of-soma-oil/|url-status=live}}</ref>

===Charity work===
Howard is a keen supporter of the hospice movement and was chairman of Hospice UK from 2010 until 2018.<ref>{{cite web |title=Hospice UK Chair set to retire from board later this year |url=https://www.hospiceuk.org/about-hospice-care/media-centre/press-releases/details/2018/04/27/hospice-uk-chair-set-to-retire-from-board-later-this-year |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210308063628/https://www.hospiceuk.org/about-hospice-care/media-centre/press-releases/details/2018/04/27/hospice-uk-chair-set-to-retire-from-board-later-this-year |archive-date=8 March 2021 |access-date=10 March 2019 |website=hospiceuk.org}}</ref>