Alan Robert Haworth was born on 26 April 1948 in Blackburn, the son of John Haworth and Hilma Haworth (neé Westhead). He was educated at St Silas School, Blackburn; Blackburn Technical and Grammar School; the University of St Andrews; and Barking Regional College of Technology. He married Gill Cole in 1973 (divorced) and Maggie Rae in 1991 (died 2023).

On graduation, he worked as a registrar at Barking Regional College of Technology, 1973-5. In 1975, he was appointed to the staff of the Parliamentary Labour Party, where he held the positions of committee officer, 1975-85, senior committee officer, 1985-92, and secretary, 1992-2004.

He was created a life peer and became a member of the House of Lords in 2004.

He died on 28 August 2023.

He was a notable obituarist of Labour politicians and his publications include (co-edited with Dianne Hayter) 'The Men Who Made Labour' (2006).