Woolas Makes Final Commons Appearance Before Election

Phil Woolas

Phil Woolas has made his last appearance in Parliament before the general election. He told the House that “the good people of Oldham East and Saddleworth” will decide whether it will prove to be his last-ever Commons speech.

Mr Woolas, the Immigration Minister, spoke in a brief debate last night brought by Conservative Ann Widdecombe regarding one of her constituents involved in an immigration case. For Miss Widdecombe it was definitely her Commons farewell, because she’s not contesting her Maidstone seat at the election.

Mr Woolas paid tribute to her saying, “I would like to tell her that the House will miss her. She brings the House into good repute. She and I disagree on many matters politically but… we agree on more things than people would expect.”

At the 2005 election, Labour’s Mr Woolas had a majority of 3,590 over the Liberal Democrats. This time he faces challenges from Lib Dem Elwyn Watkins, Kashif Ali of the Conservatives, and the BNP’s Alwyn Stott.

You can read the debate in full on the They Work For You site here.

Author: Jude Gidney - Editor

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