Woolas vows to pay back fighting fund

Phil Woolas is set to pay back tens of thousands of pounds donated to him to help him fight his legal battle.

A fighting fund was set up by a group of MPs to help Mr Woolas raise £50,000 to buy an insurance policy needed to take his appeal further.

Last week, three High Court judges upheld the original election court ruling that Mr Woolas had been found guilty of lying about an opponent but ruled in his favour on costs.

Mr Woolas told the Chronicle: “The situation is my legal team acted for free because they thought it was the right thing to do and wanted to support me and that speaks volumes. There will be some costs incurred but I will be able to pay back the majority of money donated.

“I did not lose costs and that speaks volumes as the judges thought my comments were political not personal attacks.”

Judge Lord Thomas recognised that Mr Woolas did not accept the intention of his leaflet but that there was no appeal avenue for him on the matter. The former Oldham East and Saddleworth MP has written to the Parliamentary Labour Party and the constituency Labour Party thanking them for their support.

Mr Woolas wrote to MPs: “As my legal team were acting for free and out of their conviction of my case and the importance of it, this will mean that I will be able to refund the bulk of the money that you helped to raise — around £50,000.”

Mr Woolas, who was first elected in 1997, said he would remain active within the Labour Party and was overwhelmed by the support he had received.

In his letter to Oldham Labour party members he wrote: “Whatever you think of the court’s decision, the handling of it by the party or my conduct, what is important is not my personal circumstance but the life chances of the people of Oldham.”

No date has yet been set for the by-election but it is widely believed to be February 3. Lib-Dem HQ denied rumours circulating in Oldham and on Lib-Dem websites that they would move the writ as early as Monday if Labour did not.

Lib-Dem websites are filled with speculation that the party wants a January 13 election. Any MP can attempt to move the writ, but by tradition it is the chief whip of the party that previously held the seat.

If Lib-Dems do move the writ it will be in total defiance of Parliamentary convention and frowned upon by both other main political parties.

Labour will select its candidate for the by-election on Sunday.