Michael Howard is a British conservative politician who served as Prime Minister (2005 - 2007). He was one of only a handful of British politicians to serve in all of the four great offices of state (Home Secretary, Foreign Secretary, Chancellor and Prime Minister) and as such was an influential political figure during the Conservative government's of 1996 until he retired from government in 2007. His leadership marked a slight turn to the right, particularly over Europe. Pressure mounted on him to resign following disappointing results in the 2006 local elections.