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Woolas pulled from Question Time Woolas pulled from Question Time
(31 minutes later)
The government has pulled outspoken immigration minister Phil Woolas from BBC One's Question Time.The government has pulled outspoken immigration minister Phil Woolas from BBC One's Question Time.
Mr Woolas, who has made a series of controversial remarks, had been due to appear on the flagship political discussion programme later on Thursday.Mr Woolas, who has made a series of controversial remarks, had been due to appear on the flagship political discussion programme later on Thursday.
The Home Office offered work minister Tony McNulty instead. But Question Time editors, who decide panel members, have invited Lord Hattersley to appear.The Home Office offered work minister Tony McNulty instead. But Question Time editors, who decide panel members, have invited Lord Hattersley to appear.
The Home Office denied the move was due to recent comments by Mr Woolas.The Home Office denied the move was due to recent comments by Mr Woolas.
A spokesman for the department said: "The government decided that the economy and jobs were very live issues and wanted to have a minister on at cabinet level who could deal with these issues."A spokesman for the department said: "The government decided that the economy and jobs were very live issues and wanted to have a minister on at cabinet level who could deal with these issues."
Issues discussed during the programme are decided by the audience - it is likely that Mr Woolas would have faced questions about his recent immigration comments, and his prediction of the eventual disestablishment of the Church of England.
Mr Woolas hit the headlines at the weekend when he appeared to call for a 70 million limit on Britain's population.Mr Woolas hit the headlines at the weekend when he appeared to call for a 70 million limit on Britain's population.
'Nature of the beast''Nature of the beast'
He later rowed back on these comments, which appeared in Saturday's Times, but then found himself in further hot water on Monday when he appeared to attack the government's managed migration policy.He later rowed back on these comments, which appeared in Saturday's Times, but then found himself in further hot water on Monday when he appeared to attack the government's managed migration policy.
In a debate in central London, he said the failure to fund asylum removals properly had caused "untold human misery and division" and said Britain could learn from the more hardline Dutch approach to immigration.In a debate in central London, he said the failure to fund asylum removals properly had caused "untold human misery and division" and said Britain could learn from the more hardline Dutch approach to immigration.
He later issued a "clarification", stressing that he had been referring to the policies of all previous governments not just the current Labour administration.He later issued a "clarification", stressing that he had been referring to the policies of all previous governments not just the current Labour administration.
The Conservatives claimed the minister had been "pulled" from opening a debate on border controls in the Commons on Tuesday over fears he would make more gaffes.The Conservatives claimed the minister had been "pulled" from opening a debate on border controls in the Commons on Tuesday over fears he would make more gaffes.
The government has repeatedly stressed the value it places on the Establishment of the Church of England as something valued by people of all faiths and none Church of EnglandThe government has repeatedly stressed the value it places on the Establishment of the Church of England as something valued by people of all faiths and none Church of England
But the Home Office said Home Secretary Jacqui Smith had decided last Friday to represent the government in the debate - before Mr Woolas' Times interview was published and Downing Street said it had full confidence in the minister, who took over the immigration brief earlier this month.But the Home Office said Home Secretary Jacqui Smith had decided last Friday to represent the government in the debate - before Mr Woolas' Times interview was published and Downing Street said it had full confidence in the minister, who took over the immigration brief earlier this month.
Mr Woolas summed up for the government at the end of the four hour debate, which saw some Conservative MPs attempt to make capital out of his Times interview.Mr Woolas summed up for the government at the end of the four hour debate, which saw some Conservative MPs attempt to make capital out of his Times interview.
Mr Woolas brushed off the controversy as being the "nature of the beast" and urged MPs not to question each other's motives in the Commons.Mr Woolas brushed off the controversy as being the "nature of the beast" and urged MPs not to question each other's motives in the Commons.
'Multi faith society''Multi faith society'
But he was pitched into fresh controversy on Wednesday when The Times released unpublished quotes from his weekend interview, in which he predicts the eventual disestablishment of the Church of England.But he was pitched into fresh controversy on Wednesday when The Times released unpublished quotes from his weekend interview, in which he predicts the eventual disestablishment of the Church of England.
He argues that the government's Lords reform programme will eventually lead to the historic links between Church and state being cut.He argues that the government's Lords reform programme will eventually lead to the historic links between Church and state being cut.
"Disestablishment - I think it will happen because it's the way things are going. Once you open debate about reform of the House of Lords you open up debate about the make-up of the House," he told the newspaper."Disestablishment - I think it will happen because it's the way things are going. Once you open debate about reform of the House of Lords you open up debate about the make-up of the House," he told the newspaper.
"It will probably take 50 years, but a modern society is multi faith.""It will probably take 50 years, but a modern society is multi faith."
The government distanced itself from the minister's comments.The government distanced itself from the minister's comments.
A Ministry of Justice spokeswoman said: "The Church of England is by law established as the Church in England and the Monarch is its Supreme Governor.A Ministry of Justice spokeswoman said: "The Church of England is by law established as the Church in England and the Monarch is its Supreme Governor.
"The government remains committed to this position and values the establishment of the Church of England.""The government remains committed to this position and values the establishment of the Church of England."
The Church of England also emphasised its continued commitment to its role at the heart of the British constitution, with the Queen as its head.The Church of England also emphasised its continued commitment to its role at the heart of the British constitution, with the Queen as its head.
"The government has repeatedly stressed the value it places on the Establishment of the Church of England as something valued by people of all faiths and none."The government has repeatedly stressed the value it places on the Establishment of the Church of England as something valued by people of all faiths and none.
"The Church is honoured to perform this service to the nation which embraces a wide range of aspects - from the parish system and bishops in the House of Lords, to church schools and helping the nation mark important events.""The Church is honoured to perform this service to the nation which embraces a wide range of aspects - from the parish system and bishops in the House of Lords, to church schools and helping the nation mark important events."