Elwyn Watkins

Elwyn Watkins
Elwyn Watkins pictured in 2013
Watkins in 2013
Personal details
Born(1963-10-29)29 October 1963
Rochdale, Lancashire, England
Died19 May 2024(2024-05-19) (aged 60)
Political partyLiberal Democrats
Residence(s)Delph, Greater Manchester[1]
Alma materLondon School of Economics[1]
Websiteelwynwatkins.co.uk

Robert Elwyn James Watkins (29 October 1963 – 19 May 2024) was a British Liberal Democrat politician. He narrowly lost to Labour Party candidate Phil Woolas for the Oldham East and Saddleworth seat in the 2010 general election, but the result was overturned by an election court,[2] which found that Woolas had knowingly lied about Watkins' personal character.

Watkins had stood down as a councillor representing Healey Ward on Rochdale Council in order to contest the general election.[3] He was selected as the Liberal Democrat candidate for the constituency in late 2007.[4] 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".[5] After the 2010 election and subsequent court case, Watkins contested a by-election but was defeated by Woolas' replacement, Debbie Abrahams.[6]

Watkins' death was announced on Facebook on 20 May 2024;[7] he was 60 years old.

  1. ^ a b "Elwyn Watkins (Lib Dem)". Manchester Evening News. 5 April 2010. Archived from the original on 27 November 2010. Retrieved 22 November 2010.
  2. ^ Judges order election re-run in ex-minister's seat BBC News 2010-11-05
  3. ^ "Watkins resigns from council". Oldham Evening Chronicle. 30 March 2010.
  4. ^ "Elwyn Watkins selected for Oldham East and Saddleworth". Rochdale Online. 9 September 2007.
  5. ^ "'Personal attack' angers Lib-Dem". Oldham Evening Chronicle. 29 August 2008.
  6. ^ "Labour celebrate victory in Oldham East by-election". BBC News. 14 January 2011.
  7. ^ "Facebook". www.facebook.com. Retrieved 20 May 2024.