The former Oldham East and Saddleworth MP Phil Woolas has died at the age of 66 after battle with brain cancer
In a statement his family said
“Phil Woolas, former Labour MP and minister, has died aged 66. For more than a year he battled the brain cancer, glioblastoma. He leaves his wife Tracey, his sons Josh and Jed and a new grandson, and many friends and former colleagues who will all miss him greatly.
Woolas who served in both Tony Blair and Gordon Brown’s Government’s lost his seat in 2010 after a court ruled that he had breached section 106 of the Representation of the People Act 1983 and ordered a fresh election for the seat to be held
Debbie Abrahams won the subsequent by election and has remained as an MP ever since
“From 2011 onwards, Phil set up and ran his own political and risk consultancy.
“For more than 25 years, Phil was the chair of The Ace Centre, an Oldham charity helping people with communication difficulties, that he led to become a national charity leader in assistive technology for severely disabled people.”
He will perhaps be best remembered though for for a live TV clash with Gurkhas’ champion Joanna Lumley in 2009.
