1964 - 1966

Herbert Bowden (1905-1994) After military service in the RAF, Bowden was elected to the Commons in the Labour landslide of 1945, and although he was appointed to junior ministerial office in 1950, made his name first as deputy, then as chief whip for the Labour party during its years in opposition. In Harold Wilson's first government, he was made Leader of the House, although he was replaced by Richard Crossman two years later. He left the Commons in 1967 with a peerage, and became chairman of the Independent Television Authority.