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Phil Woolas

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The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Migration and Citizenship is a ministerial position in the Home Office of the Government of the United Kingdom .

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38-473: Philip James Woolas (born 11 December 1959) is a British environmental consultant, political lobbyist and former television producer and politician who served as Minister of State for Borders and Immigration from 2008 to 2010. A member of the Labour Party , he was Member of Parliament (MP) for Oldham East and Saddleworth from 1997 to 2010. Prior to being elected at the 1997 general election, Woolas

76-617: A Transport Minister, and was made a whip in 2001. In June 2003, he was appointed Deputy Leader of the House of Commons under the Government's newly appointed Leader of the Commons, Peter Hain . During the May 2005 ministerial reshuffle, he also served briefly under Hain's successor, Geoff Hoon . Between the same reshuffle and June 2007, Woolas was Minister of State for Local Government at

114-628: A candidate. Watkins claimed that leaflets issued by Woolas falsely portrayed Watkins as taking unlawful foreign donations, and linked him to Islamist extremists. During the court case, held in public at Saddleworth Civic Hall, a number of emails between Woolas and his campaign team emerged. In one, Woolas's agent and former Labour councillor Joseph Fitzpatrick emailed Woolas and Steven Green, the MP's campaign adviser, to say: "Things are not going as well as I had hoped ... we need to think about our first attack leaflet." A reply from Fitzpatrick said: "If we don’t get

152-552: A council candidate for UKIP . Woolas is a director of two organisations – Boothwood Partners, an environmental consultancy, and Wellington Street Partners, a political lobbying partnership originally formed with former MPs Paul Keetch (Liberal Democrat) and Sir Sydney Chapman (Conservative). Woolas is married to events organiser and ex-lobbyist Tracey Jane Allen, former co-director of lobbying firm Morgan Allen Moore. Minister of State for Borders and Immigration From June 2017 to July 2019 and October 2022 to December 2023,

190-623: A judicial review. Woolas launched a second judicial review, technically a renewed application for permission to seek judicial review, and was heard in person at the High Court on 16 November 2010. The judges' decision took longer than expected, with them saying that there were "difficult questions to resolve". Following the initial court result, Woolas received goodwill messages from former Labour Prime Minister Gordon Brown and from Cherie Blair , wife of former Labour Prime Minister Tony Blair . Labour MP Graham Stringer ( Blackley and Broughton )

228-685: Is a ministerial department of the Government of the United Kingdom . It is responsible for environmental protection, food production and standards, agriculture , fisheries and rural communities in the entire United Kingdom. Concordats set out agreed frameworks for cooperation, between it and the Scottish Government , Welsh Government and Northern Ireland Executive , which have devolved responsibilities for these matters in their respective nations. Defra also leads for

266-686: Is sustainable development, which is defined as "development which enables all people throughout the world to satisfy their basic needs and enjoy a better quality of life without compromising the quality of life of future generations." The Secretary of State wrote in a letter to the Prime Minister that he saw Defra's mission as enabling a move toward what the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) has called "one planet living". Under this overarching aim, Defra has five strategic priorities: Defra Headquarters are at 2, Marsham Street , London. It

304-573: The Brown ministry ). He had responsibility for climate change , energy and sustainable development . In October 2006, Woolas was involved in the United Kingdom debate over veils , particularly the case of Aishah Azmi , a Muslim teaching assistant who wore an Islamic veil in class. In February 2008, he raised the question of inter-cousin marriage as a cause of the high incidence of disability within predominantly Pakistani culture . The debate

342-622: The Crown Prosecution Service announced that it would not bring criminal charges against Woolas as the finding of the Election Court already disqualified him from holding elected office and they felt that this was sufficient punishment. The CPS also declined to prosecute Joseph Fitzpatrick, although as election agent he was responsible for the items deemed to have broken the law; he later stood unsuccessfully in Oldham as

380-499: The Equality and Human Rights Commission and former Labour politician, described some of the language used in the party's leaflets as "not helpful." Woolas and his agent, Joe Fitzpatrick, were also responsible for photo manipulation of images in his election addresses. In one case they manipulated an image to show his Liberal Democrat opponent Elwyn Watkins in front of armed police, allegedly to imply Watkins had been arrested. This

418-558: The GMB trade union from 1991 to 1997. He first won his seat for Labour in the 1997 general election , having contested the predecessor Littleborough and Saddleworth seat at a by-election in 1995 , which was marked by Labour's particularly vicious and personal campaign, attacking the Liberal Democrat candidate, Chris Davies , as "high on tax and soft on drugs". Peter Mandelson admitted in his autobiography that they had gone "on

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456-700: The House of Commons , with many Labour MPs voting across party lines. Woolas was later confronted at the BBC Westminster studios by the actress Joanna Lumley , the face of the Gurkha Justice Campaign . After Ms Lumley pursued him around the studio, the pair held an impromptu press conference in which she pressured him into agreeing to further talks over the settlement rights of Gurkhas. On 21 May, Home Secretary Jacqui Smith announced that all Gurkha veterans who had served four years or more in

494-539: The shadow front bench team . The New Statesman said it was a "bizarre decision" as Woolas had "run one of the most disgraceful election campaigns in recent history". On 28 May 2010, Woolas's Liberal Democrat opponent, Elwyn Watkins , issued an election petition against the result under section 106 of the Representation of the People Act 1983 , which makes it illegal to make false statements of fact about

532-604: The British Army before 1997 would be allowed to settle in Britain. Gurkhas serving after 1997 had been given UK settlement rights in 2004. Woolas stated that cost was a prime consideration: "Our estimate is £1.4 billion, and I remind the House that that would come from the defence budget." However, according to a Freedom of Information request , the only impact on the Defence budget has been £20,000 per year to set up and run

570-617: The Defra website. Policies for environment, food and rural affairs are delivered in the regions by Defra's executive agencies and delivery bodies, in particular Natural England , the Rural Payments Agency , Animal Health and the Marine Management Organisation . Defra provides grant aid to the following flood and coastal erosion risk management operating authorities : Defra's overarching aim

608-728: The Deputy Prime Minister's Office and then the Department for Communities and Local Government , the 2006 successor to the DPMO. During 2005, Woolas was accused of evading parliamentary questions with regard to public calls for reform of the Local Government Ombudsman in 2005. On 28 June 2007, he became Minister for the Environment at the Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (in

646-467: The Election Court. The other two breaches stood: "this does not affect the certificate as the findings of an illegal practice in relation to the other two matters cannot be impugned". On leaving court, Woolas said, "It is the end of the road – I am out." He lost his seat in the House of Commons A by-election to elect a new MP for his former seat was held on 13 January 2011, in which the new Labour candidate, Debbie Abrahams , defeated Elwyn Watkins . After

684-687: The Labour Party at the age of 16, and became involved in student politics through the Anti-Nazi League . Before becoming an MP, he was president of the National Union of Students from 1984 to 1986, a television producer for the BBC on Newsnight from 1988 to 1990 (where he became firm friends with fellow Manchester United supporter Michael Crick ), producer at ITN 's Channel 4 News from 1990 to 1991 and head of communications at

722-494: The United Kingdom on agricultural, fisheries and environmental matters in international negotiations on sustainable development and climate change, although a new Department of Energy and Climate Change was created on 3 October 2008 to take over the last responsibility; later transferred to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy following Theresa May 's appointment as Prime Minister in July 2016. The department

760-763: The accusations of bullying made against Gordon Brown and other members of the UK cabinet, Woolas was quoted as referring to the head of the National Bullying Helpline , Christine Pratt, as "this prat of a woman" in a radio interview. In spring 2009, Woolas was involved in a controversy regarding the rights for Gurkhas to settle in the United Kingdom. On 24 April 2009, Woolas proposed a new settlement for Gurkhas who were discharged before 1997. According to The Economist : Veterans would be allowed to settle only if they met one or more conditions based on length of service, gallantry or related illness. Many of

798-457: The attack", writing "After the campaign was over, not only our opponents but some in Labour would denounce our 'negative' tactics in highlighting Lib Dem front-runner Chris Davies' support for higher taxes and a Royal Commission to liberalise drugs laws. For tactical reasons, I felt we had had little choice". In 1999, Woolas became parliamentary private secretary to Lord Macdonald of Tradeston ,

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836-530: The climate team at Defra was merged with the energy team from the Department for Business Enterprise and Regulatory Reform (BERR), to create the Department of Energy and Climate Change , then headed by Ed Miliband . Defra ministers are as follows, with cabinet members in bold: On 8 and 9 July 2024, the appointments of Daniel Zeichner as Minister of State and Emma Hardy MP and and Baroness Hayman of Ullock as Parliamentary Under-Secretaries of State

874-498: The minister attended cabinet meetings as Minister of State for Immigration and was seen as one of the most senior Minister of State positions in the Government. The role was known as Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Future Borders and Immigration from 2020 to 2021 and Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Safe and Legal Migration from 2021 to 2022. Following the resignation of Robert Jenrick in December 2023,

912-581: The position was split into two roles: the Minister of State for Countering Illegal Migration and the Minister of State for Legal Migration and the Border . As of 2022 the minister has responsibility for legal migration, illegal migration and asylum, including: 2007 2007 Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs ( Defra )

950-575: The request of Miliband. Woolas said, "I nominated her as an act of pluralism. We thought it would send a strong signal that David will be an inclusive leader." In his 2010 re-election campaign, Woolas's campaigning methods were heavily criticised by his Liberal Democrat opponents and the Muslim Public Affairs Committee UK (MPACUK). Critics accused him, among other things, of "inflaming racial tensions" in an area that has already known race riots . Trevor Phillips , head of

988-401: The requirements seemed designed to frustrate: for example, one way to qualify automatically was by soldiering for at least 20 years, though most rank-and-file Gurkhas serve for only 15. Another was to prove that a long-term medical condition was caused or worsened by active service; a tall order for those whose injuries were sustained decades ago. These proposals later were denounced in a vote at

1026-458: The review ruling, a Labour spokesman said, "The Labour Party administratively suspended Phil Woolas after the original judgment of the election court. Following the conclusion of this judicial review, the Labour Party will consider this issue in detail and whether further action is appropriate." Although the verdict of the election court indicated a prima facie breach of criminal law, in March 2011

1064-429: The rules. Woolas said the items were on a receipt he submitted under food claims, but were not claimed themselves, and threatened a newspaper with legal action. The Legge enquiry into MPs' expenses cleared Woolas. In November 2008, Woolas attacked lawyers and charities working on behalf of asylum seekers , accusing them of undermining the law and " playing the system " by taking legal action. In February 2010, following

1102-454: The seat to be held. In a statement released through his lawyer, Woolas stated that "this election petition raised fundamental issues about the freedom to question and criticise politicians" and that it "will inevitably chill political speech". Woolas applied for a judicial review into the ruling, but as the Labour Party withdrew its support he had to finance it himself, and he started to ask for donations. The High Court rejected his request for

1140-545: The settlement office in Kathmandu. Woolas was re-elected in the 2010 general election, although the result would later be overturned by an election court . He gave his backing to close political ally David Miliband in the Labour leadership election and represented him at events throughout the country. The Times described Woolas as "a campaign fixer for Mr Miliband". However, Woolas officially nominated Diane Abbott , at

1178-525: The white vote angry he's gone." During the course of the court case, both Woolas and Fitzpatrick were cautioned by the presiding judge in respect of possible criminal charges relating to election offences. The court hearing finished in September 2010. On 5 November 2010, the court ruled that Woolas breached section 106 of the Representation of the People Act 1983, and ordered a fresh election for

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1216-494: Was a composite image, consisting of a portrait of Watkins and a photograph of armed police patrolling London. The Metropolitan Police insignia was also airbrushed from a female officer's jacket. Woolas won the election and was returned to Parliament with a majority of 103 votes – down from 3,590. Following the election of Ed Miliband as the Labour Party Leader, Woolas was reappointed to the immigration brief on

1254-566: Was announced, but initially without details of specific portfolios within Defra. The Permanent Secretary is Tamara Finkelstein , who replaced Clare Moriarty in 2019. Defra is responsible for British Government policy in the following areas Some policies apply to England alone due to devolution , while others are not devolved and therefore apply to the United Kingdom as a whole. The department's executive agencies are: The department's key delivery partners are: A full list of departmental delivery and public bodies may be found on

1292-532: Was barred from standing again at the subsequent by-election . He was also suspended from the Labour Party until January 2011, when his suspension was lifted. Woolas was born in Scunthorpe , Lincolnshire, on 11 December 1959. He went to Nelson Grammar School and, after O levels, Nelson and Colne College . He received a BA in philosophy from the Victoria University of Manchester . Woolas joined

1330-692: Was formed in June 2001, under the leadership of Margaret Beckett , when the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (MAFF) was merged with part of the Department of Environment, Transport and the Regions (DETR) and with a small part of the Home Office . It was created after the perceived failure of MAFF to deal adequately with an outbreak of Foot and Mouth disease . The department had about 9,000 core personnel, as of January 2008 . In October 2008,

1368-407: Was president of the National Union of Students (NUS), a producer for BBC programme Newsnight and a trade unionist at the GMB trade union . In November 2010, he was found to have breached the Representation of the People Act 1983 in the course of the 2010 general election . As a result, his victory of 103 votes at the election was declared void, he lost his seat in the House of Commons and he

1406-524: Was vocally supportive and criticised Harman and the party for suspending Woolas. A decision on this second request was published on 3 December 2010. Woolas was accompanied to court by the Labour Shadow Health Secretary John Healey . The court granted Woolas permission to bring judicial review and that review overturned one of the three breaches of the section 106 of the Representation of the People Act 1983 found by

1444-415: Was welcomed by Ann Cryer MP who cited incidences in her own constituency. This debate was still continuing in 2011. Following the cabinet re-shuffle of 3 October 2008, Woolas was made Minister of State for Borders and Immigration at both the Home Office and HM Treasury . In the United Kingdom parliamentary expenses scandal of 2009, Phil Woolas reportedly claimed expenses for items not allowed under

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