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.

[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.

[2] He failed to get the decision overturned[10][11] and so a by-election for the Oldham East and Saddleworth seat was called which was won by Labour's Debbie Abrahams.