Phil Woolas, a former Labour minister and Member of Parliament, has passed away at 66, as confirmed by his family and close associates. He served as a minister in both the Tony Blair and Gordon Brown administrations and represented Oldham East and Saddleworth from 1997 to 2010.
His family and friends released a statement announcing his death, revealing that he had been battling brain cancer, specifically glioblastoma. The statement expressed that Phil Woolas, a former Labour MP and minister, had fought bravely against the illness for over a year. He is survived by his wife Tracey, sons Josh and Jed, a new grandson, and a multitude of friends and former colleagues who will deeply miss him.
Before his political career, Woolas held roles as the NUS president, TV producer, and GMB union communications director. He served as the MP for Oldham East and Saddleworth for 13 years and held various ministerial positions in both Tony Blair and Gordon Brown’s governments.
During his tenure at the Home Office, Woolas faced a notable moment when confronted by actress Joanna Lumley at a live press conference regarding Gurkhas’ rights in the UK.
Following his political career, Woolas established and managed his political and risk consultancy from 2011 onwards. He was also actively involved with The Ace Centre, an Oldham charity aiding people with communication difficulties. Former Prime Minister Tony Blair praised Woolas as an exceptional member of the New Labour government, highlighting his political acumen and support during both challenging and prosperous times.
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