Phil Woolas, the former Labour immigration minister, faces accusations of trying to exploit anti-Muslim feeling in his successful campaign to retain the seat of Oldham East and Saddleworth. He won narrowly (103 votes) over Lib-Dem candidate Elwyn Watkins.
Woolas had alleged in election literature that Muslim extremists were backing Wakins against him. Woolas says: "My strategy was to mobilise mainstream Muslims and the white community against the extremists and to do that I had to highlight it to the white community.”