The Digester

Woolas, a former Labour MP and minister who served from 1997 to 2010, has died of glioblastoma, his family said, leaving a wife, two sons and a grandson.

Phil Woolas died aged 66 after a year-long battle with glioblastoma, his family said.
He was elected MP for Oldham East and Saddleworth in Labour’s 1997 landslide and served in Parliament until 2010.
Woolas held ministerial posts including minister of state for local government, the environment and borders and immigration.
He lost his seat after a court ruled he had made false statements against a Liberal Democrat opponent in the 2010 campaign.
He proposed strict settlement conditions for Gurkha veterans that were later eased to four years of service after a campaign led by Joanna Lumley.
Before and after politics he worked in broadcast journalism, led communications for the GMB union, ran a political consultancy, and chaired the Ace Centre charity.

Former Labour minister Phil Woolas dies of brain cancer aged 66

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