Charles Alexander James Whelan (born 3 February 1954, north-east Surrey) is former political director of the British trade union Unite.
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.
[4] In Stephen Frears' made-for-television film The Deal, Charlie Whelan was played by Dexter Fletcher.