Charlie Whelan
Encyclopedia
Charles Alexander James Whelan (born 3 February 1954, north-east Surrey) is former political director of the British trade union
Unite
. He rose to prominence as spokesman for Labour
politician Gordon Brown
from 1992 to 1999.
civil servant. Between 1968 and 1974, Whelan went to Ottershaw School, a state boarding school in Ottershaw
, Surrey
, which had been established in 1948 by Surrey County Council (SCC) as a boarding school for boys of 12 to 18 years of age. It was the first of its kind in the country to be entirely in the hands of a Local Education Authority.
At Ottershaw, he was a "breakfast boy" - he prepared and delivered meals for older boys. He was captain of the football team. He studied Politics at the City of London Polytechnic (which became the London Guildhall University
in 1992).
In 1980 Whelan became a foreign exchange
dealer. From 1981-92 he was a researcher and assistant to Jimmy Airlie of the Amalgamated Engineering and Electrical Union
. He was a member of the Communist Party during the 1980s.
's resignation over a home loan. He has since carved out a career in the media
. Whelan currently works as political director for Unite
, Britain's biggest trade union
.
In April 2009, it was revealed that Whelan was copied in on emails from Damian McBride
which proposed to publish lies about opposition politicians and their families on the internet. The ensuing scandal forced McBride's resignation, followed by personal letters of regret from the Prime Minister to those named. A leading article in The Times
on 16 April 2009 called on Unite to review its relationship with Whelan as a result.
, in the highlands of Scotland, with his long-term partner, Philippa Clark.
' made-for-television film The Deal, Charlie Whelan was played by Dexter Fletcher
.
Trade union
A trade union, trades union or labor union is an organization of workers that have banded together to achieve common goals such as better working conditions. The trade union, through its leadership, bargains with the employer on behalf of union members and negotiates labour contracts with...
Unite
Unite the Union
Unite – the Union, known as Unite, is a British and Irish trade union, formed on 1 May 2007, by the merger of Amicus and the Transport and General Workers' Union...
. He rose to prominence as spokesman for Labour
Labour Party (UK)
The Labour Party is a centre-left democratic socialist party in the United Kingdom. It surpassed the Liberal Party in general elections during the early 1920s, forming minority governments under Ramsay MacDonald in 1924 and 1929-1931. The party was in a wartime coalition from 1940 to 1945, after...
politician Gordon Brown
Gordon Brown
James Gordon Brown is a British Labour Party politician who was the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom and Leader of the Labour Party from 2007 until 2010. He previously served as Chancellor of the Exchequer in the Labour Government from 1997 to 2007...
from 1992 to 1999.
Early life and career
Whelan's father was a Conservative-votingConservative Party (UK)
The Conservative Party, formally the Conservative and Unionist Party, is a centre-right political party in the United Kingdom that adheres to the philosophies of conservatism and British unionism. It is the largest political party in the UK, and is currently the largest single party in the House...
civil servant. Between 1968 and 1974, Whelan went to Ottershaw School, a state boarding school in Ottershaw
Ottershaw
Ottershaw is a village in the Runnymede district of Surrey, England about 20 miles to the south-west of London. It is part of the Foxhills ward in the census....
, Surrey
Surrey
Surrey is a county in the South East of England and is one of the Home Counties. The county borders Greater London, Kent, East Sussex, West Sussex, Hampshire and Berkshire. The historic county town is Guildford. Surrey County Council sits at Kingston upon Thames, although this has been part of...
, which had been established in 1948 by Surrey County Council (SCC) as a boarding school for boys of 12 to 18 years of age. It was the first of its kind in the country to be entirely in the hands of a Local Education Authority.
At Ottershaw, he was a "breakfast boy" - he prepared and delivered meals for older boys. He was captain of the football team. He studied Politics at the City of London Polytechnic (which became the London Guildhall University
London Guildhall University
London Guildhall University was a university in the United Kingdom from 1992 to 2002. On 1 August 2002, it merged with the University of North London to form London Metropolitan University...
in 1992).
In 1980 Whelan became a foreign exchange
Foreign exchange market
The foreign exchange market is a global, worldwide decentralized financial market for trading currencies. Financial centers around the world function as anchors of trading between a wide range of different types of buyers and sellers around the clock, with the exception of weekends...
dealer. From 1981-92 he was a researcher and assistant to Jimmy Airlie of the Amalgamated Engineering and Electrical Union
Amalgamated Engineering and Electrical Union
The Amalgamated Engineering and Electrical Union was a British trade union. It merged with the MSF to form Amicus in 2001.The history of the union can be traced back to the formation of the "Old Mechanics" of 1826, which grew into the Amalgamated Society of Engineers in 1851...
. He was a member of the Communist Party during the 1980s.
Resignation and later career
Whelan resigned as Brown's spokesman in 1999 after leaking information relating to Peter MandelsonPeter Mandelson
Peter Benjamin Mandelson, Baron Mandelson, PC is a British Labour Party politician, who was the Member of Parliament for Hartlepool from 1992 to 2004, served in a number of Cabinet positions under both Tony Blair and Gordon Brown, and was a European Commissioner...
's resignation over a home loan. He has since carved out a career in the media
Mass media
Mass media refers collectively to all media technologies which are intended to reach a large audience via mass communication. Broadcast media transmit their information electronically and comprise of television, film and radio, movies, CDs, DVDs and some other gadgets like cameras or video consoles...
. Whelan currently works as political director for Unite
Unite the Union
Unite – the Union, known as Unite, is a British and Irish trade union, formed on 1 May 2007, by the merger of Amicus and the Transport and General Workers' Union...
, Britain's biggest trade union
Trade union
A trade union, trades union or labor union is an organization of workers that have banded together to achieve common goals such as better working conditions. The trade union, through its leadership, bargains with the employer on behalf of union members and negotiates labour contracts with...
.
In April 2009, it was revealed that Whelan was copied in on emails from Damian McBride
Damian McBride
Damian McBride is a former civil servant and former special advisor to British Prime Minister Gordon Brown. McBride began his civil service career at HM Customs and Excise...
which proposed to publish lies about opposition politicians and their families on the internet. The ensuing scandal forced McBride's resignation, followed by personal letters of regret from the Prime Minister to those named. A leading article in The Times
The Times
The Times is a British daily national newspaper, first published in London in 1785 under the title The Daily Universal Register . The Times and its sister paper The Sunday Times are published by Times Newspapers Limited, a subsidiary since 1981 of News International...
on 16 April 2009 called on Unite to review its relationship with Whelan as a result.
Personal life
Whelan now lives in a cottage in a hamlet called Skye of Curr, located near to the village of Dulnain BridgeDulnain Bridge
Dulnain Bridge is a village in Strathspey, next to the meeting of the River Dulnain and the River Spey, three miles south-west of Grantown-on-Spey, in the Scottish Highlands and the Highland council area.-History:...
, in the highlands of Scotland, with his long-term partner, Philippa Clark.
In popular culture
In Stephen FrearsStephen Frears
Stephen Arthur Frears is an English film director.-Early life:Frears was born in Leicester, England to Ruth M., a social worker, and Dr Russell E. Frears, a general practitioner and accountant. He did not find out that his mother was Jewish until he was in his late 20s...
' made-for-television film The Deal, Charlie Whelan was played by Dexter Fletcher
Dexter Fletcher
Dexter Fletcher is an English actor. He is best known for his role in Guy Ritchie film, Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels as well as television roles in such shows as the dramedy Hotel Babylon, the critically acclaimed HBO series Band of Brothers and earlier in his career, the children's show...
.