Tributes Pour In After Former Government Minister Phil Woolas Dies Aged 66

Phil Woolas, a former Labour MP and cabinet minister, has died at the age of 66 after a more than year-long battle with the brain cancer glioblastoma, his family and close friends have announced. He died in the early hours of Saturday and leaves his wife Tracey, sons Josh and Jed, a new grandson and many friends and former colleagues.

Phil Woolas: Parliamentary Career and Ministerial Roles

Phil Woolas served as Member of Parliament for Oldham East and Saddleworth from 1997 to 2010. During his time in government he held a succession of ministerial posts in the administrations of Tony Blair and Gordon Brown. His appointments included roles as a whip, deputy leader of the Commons, local government minister, environment minister and immigration minister.

Earlier Work, Later Career and Charity Leadership

Before entering Parliament, Woolas was NUS president, worked as a TV producer and served as communications director for the GMB union. Following his parliamentary career, from 2011 onwards he established and ran his own political and risk consultancy. For more than 25 years he chaired The Ace Centre, an Oldham-based charity supporting people with communication difficulties; under his leadership the charity became a national leader in assistive technology for severely disabled people.

Family, Illness and Legacy

The announcement from his family and close friends noted that Woolas had battled glioblastoma for more than a year. He is survived by his wife Tracey, his sons Josh and Jed, and a new grandson. The statement said he will be missed by many friends and former colleagues, highlighting the personal and public roles he held throughout his life in politics, media and charity work.

Further details about funeral arrangements and planned tributes were not included in the statement announcing his death.