High Quality Content by WIKIPEDIA articles! Joel Barnett, Baron Barnett, PC (born 14 October 1923), is a Labour member of the House of Lords. Barnett was educated at Manchester Central High School. He worked as an accountant. He was elected a councillor on Prestwich Borough Council 1956-1959 and was treasurer of Manchester Fabian Society. Barnett stood in Runcorn in 1959 without success. He was elected Member of Parliament for Heywood and Royton in 1964. He was a member of the Public Accounts Committee from January 1966.