Woolas victim in plot to bring down Brown

MP Phil Woolas

AN Oldham MP found himself embroiled in a dirty tricks campaign to bring down Gordon Brown — after someone posing as a Government official called the Evening Chronicle claiming he had resigned.

Chronicle editor Jim Williams received a call from the hoaxer who said he was returning a call to answer questions the paper may have over the breaking news of Phil Woolas’s resignation.

The troublemaker had taken on the alias of an actual member of staff in the Cabinet Office and is believed to have called various papers and media outlets, spreading the malicious lies.

The Oldham East and Saddleworth MP, oblivious to what was happening, was on Government business in South America.

The trickster knew exactly what he was doing and obviously wanted to cause more waves in an already divided Labour party.

The hoax came days after rebel Labour MPs, and a Government minister openly called for a leadership contest.

Speaking to the Chronicle Mr Woolas said: “There I am in UN talks at the end of the world in a glacier in Patagonia, and the only way I have of finding out what is happening back in Oldham is by listening to Manchester radio on the Internet.

“I was totally oblivious to the fact that there was massive speculation that I was going to bring down Gordon Brown — that is what this person was insinuating. It is utter rubbish”

The Oldham MP led the campaign Blairites for Brown in the transition period of Tony Blair stepping down — so rumours the man formerly bringing unity to the party was now wanting to divide it would have rocked the party to its core.

And despite everyone who knows the Oldham East MP knowing it was utterly untrue, because of the time difference and Phil’s remote location it was more than 12 hours before he became aware of the claims.

He received a message from the Embassy saying: “Don’t worry it’s political not family but call London immediately.”