A long-serving Member of Parliament (MP), Bowles served briefly as a Deputy Speaker of the House of Commons, but is perhaps best known for agreeing to give up his safe seat to make way for Minister of Technology Frank Cousins.
His few prominent campaigns included better pay for members of parliament, although he did also press for safer motor racing after the Le Mans disaster of 1955.
Bowles' constituency party, while holding him in reasonable regard, were inclined to complain that he neglected them and preferred to stay in London.
When, following the 1964 general election, Frank Cousins was appointed as Minister of Technology, the Labour whips sought out MPs with safe seats who would accept a Peerage to make way for him.
He told the press he had initially been "shocked, tremendously worried and ill" at the thought of leaving the Commons, but decided to make the sacrifice.