Biography

Born in 1959 to Dennis and Maureen Woolas, Phil was brought up in the Lancashire town of Burnley. Phil's main interests, away from politics, are Manchester United and Lancashire Cricket Club.

Educated locally, Phil studied hard and secured a place at Manchester University where he studied Philosophy. As a student Phil got involved in politics and became President of the National Union of Students.

Before being elected to Parliament Phil had many interesting jobs. After leaving University he went to work for the organisation War or Want as a fundraiser, followed by a job as a Television Producer for BBC Newsnight and Channel 4 News. Phil's most recent job before becoming an MP was working for his trade union the GMB, where he was responsible for communications, getting the union message across to the media.

In politics Phil has had many positions both within the Labour Party and his trade union. This is how he came to fight the Littleborough and Saddleworth by-election in 1995, where Phil massively increased the Labour vote. Following a boundary change Littleborough and Saddleworth was changed, the majority of the seat became what is now known as Oldham East and Saddleworth.

From June 2003 to May 2005 Phil was Deputy Leader of the House of Commons. In May 2005 he was appointed Minister for Local Government.