Earlier than changing into an MP, he labored as TV producer.
Phil Woolas has died (Picture: Getty)
Phil Woolas, a Labour former minister and MP, has died on the age of 66, his household and shut associates have introduced. Mr Woolas, who died within the early hours of Saturday, served as a minister in each the Blair and Brown governments, and as MP for Oldham East and Saddleworth between 1997 and 2010.
An announcement attributed to his household and shut associates asserting his dying mentioned he had “battled the mind most cancers, glioblastoma”. It learn: “Phil Woolas, former Labour MP and minister, has died aged 66. For greater than a yr he battled the mind most cancers, glioblastoma. He leaves his spouse Tracey, his sons Josh and Jed and a brand new grandson, and lots of associates and former colleagues who will all miss him significantly.”
Earlier than he was elected as an MP, Mr Woolas was NUS president, TV producer and GMB union communications director.
The tribute added: “He served as MP for Oldham East and Saddleworth from 1997 to 2010, and a minister in each Tony Blair and Gordon Brown’s governments – appointed successively: whip, deputy chief of the Commons, native authorities minister, surroundings minister and immigration minister.”
The assertion from his family and friends additionally learn: “From 2011 onwards, Phil arrange and ran his personal political and threat consultancy.
“For greater than 25 years, Phil was the chair of The Ace Centre, an Oldham charity serving to individuals with communication difficulties, that he led to grow to be a nationwide charity chief in assistive expertise for severely disabled individuals.”
Sir Tony Blair additionally paid tribute to the New Labour-era minister.
The ex-Prime Minister mentioned: “Phil was an excellent member of the New Labour authorities, a significantly revered and admired colleague, and a supply of each humour and wealthy political perception to all fortunate sufficient to know him.
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“I keep in mind and deeply recognize his assist to me through the years, via the nice instances and the dangerous.
“My deepest condolences to the fantastic Tracey and to their sons, Josh and Jed, and all their wider household.”
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