Originally from south-east Lancashire, Richard joined the British Army aged 18 and served for nearly 19 years, retiring as a Major in 2015. Qualifying as a ‘High-Threat’ bomb disposal operator in 2006, he completed four operational tours defeating improvised explosive devices in Northern Ireland, Iraq and Afghanistan.
Since leaving the Army, Richard has worked in financial services for both J.P. Morgan and Deutsche Bank achieving the gold standard in investment management, the Chartered Financial Analyst designation, in 2017. He also holds a Master of Business Administration and a 1st Class Honours degree from the Open University which he achieved whilst serving in the Army. Richard now runs his own business helping people to plan their personal finances, retirement needs and investments.
Richard has lived in Croydon since 2014 and is active within the community, standing for the Council in 2018 and as the Liberal Democrat candidate for mayor of Croydon in 2022. He is also Chair of the local Scout Group that his four sons attend. Richard’s values are borne of a lifetime of public service combined with a passionate belief in the importance of upholding people’s rights and individual freedoms. In his spare time, he enjoys playing guitar and spending time with his family.
Richard says:
I provide a real alternative to the failures of both the Conservatives in government, and Labour locally.
The number of patients waiting more than four hours in Croydon’s A&Es has risen by 52.3% compared with four years ago, Liberal Democrat analysis of House of Commons Library research reveals.
Four weeks waits for GP appointments across local NHS area have increased 31% as real terms cuts to funding bite.
Croydon’s Liberal Democrats announce their plans for a Burglary Response Guarantee as new data reveals 78% of burglary cases go unsolved in Croydon.
The Liberal Democrats have selected their four candidates for the forthcoming General Election.
Since 2006, the Council has accumulated debts of over £1 BILLION POUNDS - thanks to the mismanagement from Labour and the Conservatives.
A video message from Richard Howard, Liberal Democrat candidate for Croydon's first mayor.
