Paul Howell (born 10 January 1960)^[1] is a British Conservative Party politician serving as Member of Parliament (MP) for Sedgefield since 2019. Prior to his political career, he was an accountant.^[2]

Howell was born in Bishop Auckland Hospital in County Durham. He was raised in Ferryhill and Newton Aycliffe and attended Dean Bank and Sugar Hill primary schools and The Avenue Comprehensive School. His father was a divisional fire officer. He has an MBA from Durham University.^[3] After leaving school, he worked as a chartered accountant for firms such as Darchem, Blue Circle Industries, and Wilsonart.^[4]

Howell joined the Conservative Party in 2010.^[4] He was a councillor for Hummersknott ward on the Darlington Borough Council between 2019 and 2021.^[5][6] He was also a councillor for Aycliffe North and Middridge on the Durham County Council between 2017 and 2021.^[7]

Howell unsuccessfully contested Houghton and Sunderland South at the 2017 general election, coming in second place with 29.7% of the vote behind the incumbent Labour MP Bridget Phillipson.^[8]

At the 2019 general election, Howell was elected as MP for Sedgefield, winning the seat with 47.2% of the vote and a majority of 4,513.^[9][10] The constituency had previously been represented by a Labour Party MP since the 1935 general election including former PM Tony Blair who represented the constituency between 1983 and 2007.^[11][12]

Howell has been a member of the Transport Select Committee since November 2022 and was a member of the Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy Committee between March 2020 and October 2022.^[13] On 14 June 2022, Howell became a Parliamentary Private Secretary in the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.^[14]

Howell owns a property portfolio consisting of nine houses in Darlington, five houses in Durham and two flats in County Durham.^[15]