Woolas in cross-party venture

NEW business: Phil Woolas

Phil Woolas has set up a cross-party political consultancy firm with a pair of fellow former MPs.

Mr Woolas, who was ousted from his Labour seat in Oldham East and Saddleworth, is now in business with a former Conservative and a Liberal Democrat MP.

It follows the historic election court staged in Uppermill in November, 2010, when he was stripped of his seat for lying about his Lib-Dem opponent during elections.

He will now work alongside former Lib-Dem MP Paul Keetch, who represented the party in Hereford from 1997 to 2010.

With Sir Sydney Chapman, Tory MP for Birmingham Handsworth from 1970-74 and Chipping Barnet from 1979-2005, the trio makes up Wellington Street Partners Ltd.

The company will provide political advice and intelligence, analysis and interpretation of how the Government and parliament works, but the trio denies being a lobbying company.