Former Labour minister Phil Woolas dies aged 66
Former Labour minister Phil Woolas dies aged 66
A former Labour minister, known for a memorable televised debate with Joanna Lumley, has died at 66 after a prolonged struggle with brain cancer.
Political Roles and Tenure
Woolas served as a Member of Parliament for Oldham East and Saddleworth from 1997 to 2010. During his time in office, he occupied various ministerial positions under Sir Tony Blair and Gordon Brown, including roles in the Home Office and local government.
Controversial Court Case
His political journey concluded in scandal when a court found him guilty of violating electoral laws by knowingly disseminating false information about his Liberal Democrat rival. This ruling triggered a re-election process, marking a pivotal moment in his career.
TV Showdown and Campaign Efforts
The public confrontation with Joanna Lumley occurred during a live broadcast in 2009, when she opposed proposals by Brown’s government to limit the residency rights of retired Gurkhas. As a staunch immigration minister, Woolas faced her in a heated exchange, with Labour rebels uniting with Conservative and Liberal Democrat MPs to challenge the policy.
Following the initial clash in a Westminster studio, the two agreed to a joint press conference that turned chaotic. Lumley, representing the Gurkhas Justice Campaign, appeared to convince Woolas of the need for revised guidelines. She stated:
“I have met Mr Woolas now and I am reassured again. Because I know we are going to assist Mr Woolas in making the strongest guidelines possible.”
Early Political Life and Tributes
Woolas began his political career at 16 by joining the Labour Party and later served as president of the National Union of Students from 1984 to 1986. Sir Tony Blair praised his contributions, recalling:
“Phil was an outstanding member of the New Labour government, a greatly respected and admired colleague, and a source of both humour and rich political insight to all lucky enough to know him. I remember and deeply appreciate his support to me over the years, through the good times and the bad.”
Defence Secretary John Healey, a close confidant, highlighted Woolas’s influence in shaping New Labour, noting his role in modernizing key institutions like the Labour Party and trade unions during the 1980s and 1990s.
Media and Union Work
Before his parliamentary career, Woolas worked as a TV producer and later became head of communications for the GMB union. In 1996, he orchestrated a memorable protest by bringing a live pig named Cedric to a British Gas AGM, symbolizing “snouts in the trough” in response to a proposed 75% pay increase.
Despite losing a by-election in 1995, he secured a seat in the 1997 Labour landslide and began his ministerial duties in 2003. His roles included deputy Commons leader and environment minister, before taking on the immigration portfolio in 2008.
Woolas was a vocal and often contentious figure in politics, losing his seat by just 103 votes in 2010. His election petition, initiated by Liberal Democrat opponent Elwyn Watkins, resulted in a historic court case that redefined electoral law for nearly a century.
A court decision confirmed Woolas’s awareness of the falsehoods he spread during the campaign, leading to his legal accountability. In response, he remarked:
“Those who stand for election and participate in the democratic process must be prepared to have their political conduct and motives subjected to searching, scrutiny and inquiry. They must accept that their political character and conduct”
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