A selection of images representing communities.
Phil Woolas was appointed as Minister for Local Government and Community Cohesion at Communities and Local Government in May 2006, having formerly been Minister for Local Government at the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister from May 2005.
Previously, Mr Woolas was Deputy Leader of the House of Commons, and has held roles including Government Whip and Parliamentary Private Secretary at the Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions.
He contested the 1995 Littleborough and Saddleworth by-election and has been Member of Parliament for Oldham East and Saddleworth since 1 May 1997.
Before entering Parliament he was Head of Communications at the GMB trade union (91-97) and previously a television producer for the BBC and ITN (88-90). He was President of the NUS (84-86). He is a graduate in Philosophy from Manchester University. He is married with two sons.
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