Robert Elwyn James Watkins (29 October 1963 – 19 May 2024) was a British

Liberal Democrat Several political parties from around the world have been called the Liberal Democratic Party, Democratic Liberal Party or Liberal Democrats. These parties have usually followed liberalism as ideology, although they can vary widely from very progr ...

politician. He narrowly lost to Labour Party candidate

Phil Woolas Philip James Woolas (born 11 December 1959) is a British environmental consultant, political lobbyist and former television producer and politician who served as Minister of State for Borders and Immigration from 2008 to 2010. A member of the ...

for the

Oldham East and Saddleworth Oldham East and Saddleworth is a List of United Kingdom Parliament constituencies, constituency in outer Greater Manchester represented in the House of Commons of the United Kingdom, House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom, UK ...

seat in the 2010 general election, but the result was overturned by an election court,Judges order election re-run in ex-minister's seat
BBC News 2010-11-05 which found that Woolas had knowingly lied about Watkins' personal character. Watkins had stood down as a

councillor A councillor, alternatively councilman, councilwoman, councilperson, or council member, is someone who sits on, votes in, or is a member of, a council. This is typically an elected representative of an electoral district in a municipal or re ...

representing Healey Ward on Rochdale Council in order to contest the general election. He was selected as the Liberal Democrat candidate for the constituency in late 2007. In 2008, Watkins said he was planning to seek legal advice after Woolas' election agent suggested he had "abandoned his constituents and moved to the Middle East to work for a multi-billionaire sheikh". After the 2010 election and subsequent court case, Watkins contested a by-election but was defeated by Woolas' replacement,

Debbie Abrahams Deborah Angela Elspeth Marie Abrahams (; born 15 September 1960) is a British Labour Party politician who has served as Member of Parliament (MP) for Oldham East and Saddleworth since 2011. Abrahams was a member of the Shadow Cabinet of Jerem ...

. Watkins' death was announced on

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on 20 May 2024; he was 60 years old.

Oldham East & Saddleworth court case

Watkins received significant media coverage in November 2010 after his petition against the return of

resulted in the general election result being declared void. Woolas was disqualified from holding elected office for three years. He failed to get the decision overturned and so a by-election for the Oldham East and Saddleworth seat was called which was won by Labour's

. Before the judgement, Watkins had said he would quit politics if his petition against the general election result was unsuccessful.

References

External links

* 1963 births Liberal Democrats (UK) parliamentary candidates Alumni of the London School of Economics Politicians from Rochdale Liberal Democrats (UK) councillors Councillors in Greater Manchester {{England-politician-stub