 He became a Lecturer in Liberal Studies at Leigh Technical College, and from 1977, Senior Lecturer in General Studies at Wigan College of Technology; he retired in 1987.Howarth remained involved in local politics in Bolton and was elected to Bolton Metropolitan Borough Council; he was Leader of the Labour Group from 1975, and then Leader of Bolton Council from 1980.In the 2004 election he was defeated in Crompton ward.