<p><br /> Two High Court judges have ordered a re-run of the general election contest in Oldham East and Saddleworth won by former Labour immigration minister Phil Woolas.<br /> </p><p><br /> The specially convened election court ruled Mr Woolas' election to Parliament void due to illegal practices undertaken during his campaign. They found the 50-year old guilty of knowingly making false statements about an opponent.<br /> </p><p><br /> The judges had heard that the Labour MP stirred up racial tensions in a desperate bid to retain his seat in Oldham East and Saddleworth.<br /> </p><p><br /> His campaign team was said to have set out to "make the white folk angry" by depicting an alleged campaign by Muslims to "take Phil out".<br /> </p><p><br /> Liberal Democrat candidate Elwyn Watkins mounted the rare legal challenge over the statements made in a pamphlet and two mock newspapers distributed in the final stages of May's contest which Mr Woolas won by just 103 votes.<br /> </p><p><br /> Giving their judgment, Mr Justice Nigel Teare and Mr Justice Griffith Williams said Mr Woolas was guilty of illegal practices under election law.<br /> </p><p><br /> Mr Woolas was found guilty of attacking his opponent's personal conduct and character with statements that he courted Muslim extremists who had advocated violence against the Labour MP.<br /> </p><p><br /> He had suggested Mr Watkins had refused to condemn such threats in pursuit of personal advantage. Both statements were untrue and Mr Woolas knew them to be, the judges said.<br /> </p>
