My resignation is positive step for charity, says Joe

Joe Fitzpatrick - resigned from charity

JOE Fitzpatrick, election agent to former Oldham East and Saddleworth MP Phil Woolas, has resigned from Oldham charity Positive Steps in a bid to protect them from damaging publicity.

Mr Fitzpatrick, a former Oldham Labour councillor, was chairman of the board for the past five years.

He feared the negative publicity he received as agent to Mr Woolas during the historic election court hearing could potentially damage the good work achieved by the charity.

He said: “I got a lot of flak in the media. In terms of the negative press I’ve received, there was a real danger that Positive Steps would be targeted.

“The best thing for me to do would be to step aside and that is what I did at the AGM. I stood down voluntarily.”

Former minister Phil Woolas was stripped of his seat on November 5 after judges ruled he had knowingly made false statements about another candidate, Elwyn Watkins. But that decision could be overturned as Mr Woolas’s judicial review application goes before the High Court today.

Mr Fitzpatrick said if the appeal is accepted, he will continue to fight on behalf of Mr Woolas. But he admitted he would miss being part of Positive Steps.

He said: “I’m sad to go. It was good to be part of a successful organisation. When you look at their statistics, they should be really proud of reducing the number of young girls who get pregnant. I will miss my role very much but I’ve enjoyed my time.”

Nick Brown OBE, former principal of Oldham Sixth Form College, will step in temporarily while company directors of the charity decide on a new chairman.