The Right Honourable Hazel Blears MP
Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government
In office 27 June 2007 – 5 June 2009
Prime Minister	Gordon Brown
Preceded by	Ruth Kelly
Succeeded by	John Denham
Minister without Portfolio
In office 5 May 2006 – 27 June 2007
Prime Minister	Tony Blair
Preceded by	Ian McCartney
Labour Party Chair
In office 5 May 2006 – 24 June 2007
Leader	Tony Blair
Preceded by	Ian McCartney
Succeeded by	Harriet Harman
Member of Parliament for Salford and Eccles Salford (1997–2010)
Incumbent
Assumed office 1 May 1997
Preceded by	Stanley Orme
Majority	5,725 (13.8%)
Personal details
Born	(1956-05-14) 14 May 1956 (age 56) Salford, England
Political party	Labour
Spouse(s)	Michael Halsall
Alma mater	Nottingham Trent University
Profession	Solicitor
Religion	Roman Catholicism[1]
Website	www.hazelblears.co.uk

Hazel Anne Blears (born 14 May 1956) is a British Labour Party politician, who has been the Member of Parliament (MP) for Salford and Eccles since 2010 and was previously the MP for Salford since 1997. She served in the Cabinet as Minister without Portfolio and Labour Chair between 2006 and 2007, and Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government from 2007 to 2009, when she resigned. Commenting on the announcement, Prime Minister Gordon Brown, said that Blears had made an "outstanding contribution" to public life.^[2][3]

Early life and education[link]

Hazel Blears was born in Salford on 14 May 1956, the daughter of a maintenance fitter.^[4] As a young child, Hazel and her brother Stephen both played street urchins in the film A Taste of Honey which was filmed in Salford in 1961, when Blears was aged five.^[5] Blears was educated at Worsley Wardley Grammar School in Salford and then Eccles College on Chatsworth Road in Ellesmere Park, Eccles. She went to Trent Polytechnic in Nottingham (now known as Nottingham Trent University), graduating with a BA (Hons) degree in Law, and later, the Chester College of Law in 1977.^[6][7]

Career outside Parliament[link]

Hazel Blears started her career in Salford as a trainee solicitor with Salford City Council in 1978. After two years, she went into private practice for a year, before joining Rossendale Borough Council as a solicitor in 1981 and in the same year she was elected as a Branch Secretary in NALGO. In 1983 she became a solicitor for Wigan Metropolitan Borough Council and later became Manchester City Council's education solicitor. In the following year, she was elected as a councillor to Salford City Council and she served on the council until 1992. She was Chair of the Salford Community Health Council for several years.

Parliamentary career[link]

She stood in Tatton in 1987 against Neil Hamilton and in 1992 in Bury South where she lost by 788 votes. At the 1997 general election she was elected as the Labour MP for Salford, her home seat.

After the election she became the Parliamentary Private Secretary (PPS) to the Minister of State at the Department of Health Alan Milburn until 1998. She spent ten months in 1999 as PPS to then Chief Secretary to the Treasury Andrew Smith.

In the run-up to the 2001 General Election, Blears was a member and later deputy head of the Labour Party campaign team, a group of backbenchers tasked with campaigning around the country. This raised her national profile.

At the 2010 general election, parliamentary constituencies for Salford and Eccles were restructured, with Blears's constituency being abolished. She defeated Ian Stewart in the selection contest to be the Labour Parliamentary Candidate for the new parliamentary constituency of Salford and Eccles, and was elected.

During her parliamentary career, she has acquired the nickname "Chipmunk".^[1] Fraser Kemp, writing in The Spectator, has subsequently dubbed her "the Iron Chipmunk", a play on the phrase "Iron Lady", often used to describe Margaret Thatcher.^[8]

Ministerial career[link]

After the 2001 General Election, Blears entered Tony Blair's government as the Parliamentary Under Secretary of State at the Department of Health, responsible for Public Health. In this job she launched the Government's "5-a-day" campaign to get people to eat more fruit and vegetables.

Blears was promoted in 2003 to Minister of State at the Home Office, with responsibilities for policing, crime reduction and counter terrorism. She was elected to the National Executive Committee of the Labour Party in 2003. After the 2005 General Election, on 7 June 2005 she became a Member of the Privy Council. In a cabinet reshuffle following Council Elections on 4 May 2006 Tony Blair appointed her Party Chair replacing Ian McCartney.

Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government[link]

On 28 June 2007 the new Prime Minister, Gordon Brown appointed Blears as Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, replacing Ruth Kelly.^[9] In April 2008 it was rumoured that Brown was planning a summer reshuffle in which Blears would be demoted.^[10] However, when the reshuffle occurred in the autumn, it was confirmed she was to retain her position.^[11]

In May 2008 Blears mistakenly commented on BBC's Question Time that there were 3 million people unemployed in the United Kingdom when Labour came to power in 1997 (the official figure was 1,602,500).^[12]

Deputy Leadership candidate[link]

On 24 February 2007 she announced her candidacy for the election for Deputy Leader of the Labour Party, making her one of six candidates for the job formerly held by John Prescott.^[13] She came last out of six candidates. Harriet Harman won the election on 24 June 2007.^[14]

Resignation from the cabinet[link]

On 3 June 2009, the day before the 2009 European and local elections, Blears announced she would resign from the cabinet at the next reshuffle.^[3] The media noted how, on the day her resignation was announced, she wore a brooch bearing the message "rocking the boat"^[15][16] On 12 June 2009, she expressed her regret at the manner and timing of her resignation in an interview with the Manchester Evening News.^[17] Her resignation was one of several from the Labour cabinet that summer, with the government's difficulties compounded by poor results in the European elections and poor opinion poll results which were largely blamed on the recession and rising unemployment.^[18]

Ethnic minorities[link]

In March 2005, while Home Office minister with responsibility for counter-terrorism, Blears implied that section 44 of the terrorism act would dis-proportionally affect the Muslim community. In response to this and to her seeming endorsement of it, Ray Powell, President of the National Black Police Association, described the minister's language as "intemperate and inconsiderate". "I think it is wrong of her to say they should accept it is used disproportionately. That comment would not be helpful and does not instill confidence within the Muslim community,".^[19]

In August 2005 Blears said the 'rebranding' of ethnic minorities in favour of adopting US-style hyphenated titles such as Asian-British or Indian-British was "among a range of ideas" brought up in meetings with Muslim and other community groups.^[20] This proposal was quickly withdrawn by the Home Office, as the government moved to distance itself from the idea.

Hospital closures[link]

In 2006 Blears joined in protests against the closure of hospital departments in her constituency, even though these closures were consistent with the policies of the government of which she was a senior member. Health Emergency's head of campaigns Geoff Martin said, "there are 29 hospitals up and down the country facing the immediate threat of cuts and closure to key services in 2007. Will Hazel Blears be joining demonstrators on the streets in each of those areas or is this just a classic case of 'not in my back yard'"?^[21]

Expenses[link]

In May 2009 The Telegraph reported that Blears had claimed he maximum allowable expenses, within one pound, for three properties, as well as for stays in hotels, £4,874 on furniture, £899 on a new bed and £913 on a new TV, the second such TV in under a year, and the maximum £400 a month in groceries. Further, Blears had not paid capital gains tax on profit from the sale of a London flat. The property was registered as her main residence with HM Revenue and Customs, but Blears had been claiming MPs' second home expenses relating to the flat. She had made a £45,000 profit on its sale without paying capital gains tax.^[22] On 12 May she volunteered to pay the £13,332 capital gains tax she had avoided on the sale of her 'second home.^[23] It was subsequently claimed that Gordon Brown had ordered her to repay the sum.^[24] The Daily Mail printed allegations that Blears 'flipped' her homes in London three times in one year. Flipping is the practice of switching which of two or more properties is designated an MP's second home. This allowed her to maximise her taxpayer-funded allowances.^[25]

In Salford she was met by a number of angry protesters and stayed in a local hotel rather than at home. ^[26]

In June 2009 the Police at Scotland Yard and the Crown Prosecution Service issued a statement regarding MPs' expenses, which stated that they had not found evidence of criminal activity and that it was 'highly unlikely' that MPs would face charges. The Police said that the incidents of flipping second homes to avoid paying capital gains tax was not a matter for Police investigation.^[27] Following an investigation by Sir Thomas Legg, Blears was told to repay £225 in expenses in relation to a glass shelving unit for her London flat.^[28]

Personal life[link]

She married solicitor Michael Halsall on 21 October 1989 in Salford. They have no children. Halsall introduced Blears to motorcycling.^[29]

In 2005 Blears was a member of a parliamentary tap-dancing troupe known as the Division Belles. Other members included Caroline Flint, Beverley Hughes, Laura Moffatt, Meg Munn, Joan Ryan and Dari Taylor .^[30]

Although brought up as a Methodist, she attends the Roman Catholic SS Peter & Paul Church in Pendleton, as her husband is Roman Catholic.^[31]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Hazel Blears

References[link]

External links[link]

• Hazel Blears MP official constituency website
• Profile at Parliament of the United Kingdom
• Contributions in Parliament at Hansard 1803–2005
• Current session contributions in Parliament at Hansard
• Electoral history and profile at The Guardian
• Voting record at PublicWhip.org
• Record in Parliament at TheyWorkForYou.com
• Profile at Westminster Parliamentary Record
• Profile at BBC News Democracy Live
• Articles authored at Journalisted
• Home Office – Hazel Blears MP Official biography (archived)
• Communities Department profile (archived)

Audio clips

• WPRadio Online interview on Women's Parliamentary Radio just before taking over role as Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government

v t e Brown Cabinet Cabinet Members Lord Adonis • Bob Ainsworth • Douglas Alexander • Baroness Ashton • Ed Balls • Hilary Benn • Hazel Blears • Ben Bradshaw • Gordon Brown • Des Browne • Liam Byrne • Andy Burnham • Yvette Cooper • Alistair Darling • John Denham • Peter Hain • Harriet Harman • Geoff Hoon • John Hutton • Alan Johnson • Tessa Jowell • Ruth Kelly • Lord Mandelson • David Miliband • Ed Miliband • Jim Murphy • Paul Murphy • James Purnell • Baroness Royall • Jacqui Smith • Jack Straw • Shaun Woodward Also Attended Meetings Margaret Beckett • Nick Brown • Lord Drayson • Caroline Flint • Lord Grocott • John Healey • Jim Knight • Lord Malloch-Brown • Pat McFadden • Tony McNulty • Baroness Scotland Attended While on Agenda Beverley Hughes • Sadiq Khan • Dawn Primarolo • Rosie Winterton

v t e Secretaries of State for Communities and Local Government of the United Kingdom Minister of State for Communities and Local Government 2005-2006 Miliband Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government 2006-Pres. Kelly · Blears · Denham · Pickles

Abu Qatada al-Filistini (Arabic: أبو قتادة الفلسطيني‎, ’Abū Qatāda al-Filisṭīnī; born 1959/60), is the conventional name of Omar Mahmoud Othman (Arabic: عمر بن محمود بن عثمان‎ ‘Umar ibn Maḥmūd ibn ‘Uṯmān),^[1] a Palestinian Muslim of Jordanian citizenship. He is under worldwide embargo by the United Nations Security Council Committee 1267 for his alleged affiliation with al-Qaeda.^[2] Repeatedly imprisoned in Britain since he was first detained under anti-terrorism laws in 2002, he has not been prosecuted there for any criminal or conspiracy offences.^[3][4][5] The Algerian government has described Abu Qatada as being involved with Islamists in London and possibly elsewhere.^[6][7] After initially barring the United Kingdom from deporting Qatada to Jordan, in May 2012 the European Court of Human Rights ruled that he could be deported on the basis of assurances from Jordan that he will not be tortured.^[8]

Background and Imprisonment[link]

Abu Qatada has Jordanian nationality because he was born in Bethlehem in the West Bank in 1960, which at that time was occupied by Jordan. In 1989 he went to Peshawar, where the BBC has written that "some say he met Osama Bin Laden."^[9] Abu Qatada has always distanced himself from links to Al Qaeda and insisted he has never met with Osama Bin Laden.^[10] Jason Burke has written that, "Qutada [sic] has impeccable traditional and modern Salafist credentials and had acted as the in-house alim to radical groups, particularly in Algeria, from his base in northwest London since 1994".^[11] In 2001, after bin Laden was criticised by a Salafist faction for issuing fatwas, he turned to Abu Qatada for support, and the support was forthcoming.^[12] In 1991, after the Gulf War, Abu Qatada was expelled from Kuwait along with many other Palestinians. He returned to Jordan, but in September 1993 he fled with his wife and five children to the UK, using a forged UAE passport. He requested asylum on grounds of religious persecution ^[13] and this was granted in June 1994.

In February 2001, Abu Qatada was arrested and questioned in connection with a German terror cell. There was insufficient evidence against him, and all charges were dropped. Tapes of his sermons were later discovered in a Hamburg flat used by the 9/11 hijackers^[14] The Home Office stated that Abu Qatada was the spiritual guide to the 9/11 ringleader Mohamed Atta.^[15] In the wake of 9/11, new anti-terror legislation was quickly introduced in the UK. Abu Qatada, who had hitherto lived with his family in Acton, west London, disappeared. His disappearance and his previous alleged contacts with MI5, prompted speculation by the Times of London that he was working with British intelligence and had agreed to provide them with information on suspects in the "war on terror". The Times reported that "Britain ignored warnings — which began before the 11 September attacks — from half a dozen friendly governments about Abu Qatada’s links with terrorist groups and refused to arrest him. Intelligence chiefs hid from European allies their intention to use the cleric as a key informer against Islamic militants in Britain."^[16]

In October 2002 Abu Qatada was arrested at a council house in south London and taken to Belmarsh Prison. Here he began a long legal battle against deportation.^[17]

Abu Qatada feared he would be tortured were he returned to Jordan. During this period Abu Qatada lived in a legal twilight as Asim Qureshi, of UK-based human rights group CagePrisoners, explained : "He has not been able to see the evidence against him neither has his lawyer. The only person representing him is a special advocate who is not allowed to speak to him or his solicitor. There you have the bizarre situation where someone is representing him who has never met him or his lawyer," he said.^[18]

Abu Qatada was kept in prison from 2002 until 2005, when he was released under strict bail conditions. After 5 months, he was re-arrested and kept in prison until May 2008. A British court ruled on 26 February 2007, that he may be deported to Jordan.^[19] In April 2008, Abu Qatada won an appeal against deportation but remained in prison. On 8 May 2008, he was granted bail by the Special Immigration Appeals Commission. In November 2008 Abu Qatada's bail was revoked and he was sent back to prison pending his deportation from the United Kingdom.^[20] However, following a ruling from the European Court of Human Rights that he may not be deported to Jordan, Abu Qatada was released under strict bail conditions on 13 February 2012.^[21] He was rearrested on 17 April 2012 and faces deportation to Jordan following reassurances and information received by the British government from Jordan.^[22] His lawyers said they had lodged an appeal at the European Court of Human Rights.^[23]

According to conservative politician Boris Johnson, Abu Qatada's residence in Britain is estimated to have cost the British taxpayer at least £500,000 in benefit payments to his family and other expenses by early 2012.^[24] The Daily Telegraph claimed the cost to be as high as £3 million by May 2012, a figure that could not be confirmed by the British Home Office.^[25]

Activities, affiliations and influence[link]

According to the indictment of the Madrid al-Qaeda cell prepared by Spanish prosecutors, Abu Qatada was "considered the spiritual leader" of al-Qaeda in Europe and other groups including the Armed Islamic Group (GIA), the Salafist Group for Preaching and Combat (GSPC), and the Tunisian Combat Group.^[26]

When questioned in the UK in February 2001, Abu Qatada was in possession of £170,000 cash, including £805 in an envelope labelled "For the Mujahedin in Chechnya".^[27]

According to The Independent, videos of Abu Qatada's sermons were found in the Hamburg apartment of Mohamed Atta when it was searched after the 11 September 2001 attacks, which Atta led.^[27]

Mr. Justice Collins, then chairman of the Special Immigration Appeals Commission that rejected his appeal against detention without charge or trial in 2004, said that Abu Qatada was "heavily involved, indeed was at the centre in the United Kingdom of terrorist activities associated with al-Qaeda. He is a truly dangerous individual ...".^[27][28] Abu Qatada was subsequently released in 2005, never having been charged of any crime.^[19]

Abu Qatada has been called by The Times a preacher or advisor to al-Qaeda terrorists Zacarias Moussaoui and Richard Reid.^[13][29]

Abu Qatada's name is included in the UN al-Qaeda sanction list pursuant to United Nations Security Council Resolution 1267.^[2]

Legal status[link]

In 1999, Abu Qatada was sentenced in absentia by Jordan to life imprisonment with hard labour for conspiracy to carry out terror attacks, and subsequently in 2000 to a further 15 years for his involvement in a plot to bomb tourists attending Millennium celebrations in Jordan.^[15]

In October 2002, the then Home Secretary, David Blunkett, detained Abu Qatada indefinitely without trial under Part 4 of the Anti-terrorism, Crime and Security Act 2001 (ATCSA), which at that time provided for such detention.^[30] The Special Immigrations Appeals Commission subsequently rejected an appeal by Abu Qatada to be released from detention without trial.^[28] In 2005, Part 4 of ATCSA was replaced by the Prevention of Terrorism Act 2005, which replaced detentions with control orders, and Abu Qatada was released under such a control order. On 12 August 2005, Abu Qatada was detained again pending deportation to Jordan.^[31]

On 9 April 2008, the Court of Appeal ruled that Abu Qatada could not be returned to Jordan as he would face a further trial where there was a strong probability that evidence obtained by torture might be used that would amount to a breach of the United Kingdom's obligations under Article 6 of the European Convention on Human Rights.^[32] He was released on bail by the Special Immigration Appeals Commission on 8 May 2008, subject to a 22-hour home curfew and other restrictions. His bail security was provided by former terrorist hostage Norman Kember, whose release Abu Qatada had requested before Kember's rescue by the SAS in 2006.^[33]

In November 2008, he was rearrested at his home. The Special Immigration Appeals Commission revoked his bail, stating he had not broken bail conditions, but might do at some time in the future. The commission accepted the government's claim that Abu Qatada posed a significant risk of absconding, and returned him to prison pending his possible deportation.^[20]

In February 2009, Law Lords ruled that Abu Qatada could be deported to Jordan.^[34][35] In the same month, Abu Qatada was awarded £2,500 by the European Court of Human Rights in a lawsuit he filed against the UK, after judges ruled that his detention without trial in the UK breached his human rights.^[36]

On 17 January 2012, the European Court of Human Rights ruled that Abu Qatada could not be deported to Jordan as that would be a violation of his right to a fair trial under Article 6 of the European Convention on Human Rights. This was the first time the court has ruled that such an expulsion would be a violation of Article 6.^[37] The Special Immigration Appeals Commission subsequently ruled that Abu Qatada should be bailed on highly prescriptive terms for three months while the British government sought further reassurances from Jordan.^[38] Under the UN Convention Against Torture, to which the UK is a signatory, states are obliged to refrain even from complicity in torture, and thus are forbidden from deporting people to places where a real risk of torture exists. Torture is rife in Jordan and Human Rights Watch has documented allegations of severe abuse,^[39][40] although the prospect of torture did not stop the UK from deporting people to Libya under Colonel Gaddafi.^[41]

Abu Qatada was released on bail on 13 February 2012. He was prohibited from using a mobile phone, computer or the internet, and subject to an electronically monitored 22-hour curfew that only allowed him to leave home twice a day for a maximum of one hour.^[21][42]

On 17 April 2012, Abu Qatada was rearrested at his home in London.^[43] In a statement the same day the Home Secretary, Theresa May, said that reassurances and information received from Jordan meant that Abu Qatada could now be deported.^[22] His lawyers said they had lodged an appeal at the European Court of Human Rights, amidst confusion whether the three month deadline for reappealing following the January 17 ruling had passed or not.^[23][44] The al-Qaeda-linked^[45] Somali group Al-Shabaab threatened an attack against the UK if Qatada was deported.^[46]

Relation with the BBC[link]

BBC journalist Alan Johnston was kidnapped in Gaza on 13 March 2007. Johnston's captors, the Doghmush clan who headed the Army of Islam (Gaza Strip), demanded the release of dozens of captives, including Abu Qatada. Abu Qatada offered to help negotiate Johnston's release.^[47][48]

On 7 February 2012, The Daily Telegraph reported that a senior manager at the BBC had instructed its journalists not to call Abu Qatada an extremist.^[49] The BBC subsequently used the form of words "accused of being one of the UK's most dangerous extremist preachers".^[21]

Works[link]

• Islamic Movements and Contemporary Alliances, argues for no affiliation between Muslim and non-Muslim countries.
• al-Ansar magazine, the official mouthpiece of the Armed Islamic Group (GIA), to which he contributed in the early 90s.

References[link]

External links[link]

• The Savage Barbarism of Abu Qatada: a critical assessment of his writing and speeches by a Salafi Muslim scholar.

Derek Adams (born 25 June 1975) is a former Scottish footballer who is currently manager at Ross County. He is the son of George Adams, who is the director of football at Ross County. Adams played for six different clubs, making over 100 league appearances for Ross County and Motherwell. Adams managed Ross County from 2007 to 2010, guiding them to the 2010 Scottish Cup Final. After six months as assistant manager at Hibernian, Adams returned to Ross County and guided them to the 2011–12 Scottish First Division championship.

Playing career[link]

Adams started his professional career with Aberdeen, but failed to make a first-team appearance. He moved to English side Burnley, making a couple of league appearances in the mid 1990s before returning to Scotland with Ross County in 1996.

Adams joined Motherwell in 1998, spending six years at Fir Park, including a short loan spell with Ayr United. Adams was one of a number of players affected by the club's administration problems, accepting a pay cut in April 2002.^[1] Adams failed to win any trophies during his time with Well, although he scored in the 2003–04 Scottish Cup semi-final defeat against Rangers.^[2] In 2004, Adams agreed a pre-contract move to hometown club Aberdeen,^[3] spending a year at Pittodrie before being transfer-listed^[4] and leaving for Livingston in 2005.^[5]

Coaching career[link]

In 2006, Adams returned to Ross County as player–coach.^[6] In November 2007, Adams was promoted to the role of player–manager, having served as caretaker manager since October.^[7] Despite the terms of Adams' appointment, his last playing appearance was in October 2007. He led Ross County to the Scottish Second Division championship in 2008, earning promotion to the First Division. Adams then led Ross County to the 2010 Scottish Cup Final, causing upset victories over SPL sides Hibernian and Celtic.^[8] County lost 3–0 to Dundee United in the Final.^[9]

Adams left Ross County on 11 November 2010 to join Hibernian as assistant manager to Colin Calderwood.^[10] Adams has had several disciplinary cases considered by the Scottish Football Association during his coaching career.^[11] At one point he was due to be banned for 18 matches,^[12] but he won an appeal against part of the suspension.^[13] Adams was then suspended for a further six matches, a sanction which Hibs have appealed against.^[14] While this appeal was ongoing, Adams described the whole disciplinary process as distressing.^[15]

Adams left Hibernian on 19 May 2011 to return to Ross County as manager.^[16] In his first season back at County, Adams guided the club to the 2011–12 Scottish First Division championship and promotion to the Scottish Premier League.^[17] County clinched the championship with five games to spare.^[17] Adams was elected PFA Scotland Manager of the Year for the 2011–12 season.^[18]

Honours[link]

Player[link]

Ross County

• Scottish Challenge Cup: 1

2006

Manager[link]

Ross County

• Scottish Cup Runners-up: 1

2010

• Scottish First Division: 1

2012

• Scottish Second Division: 1

2008

Statistics[link]

Manager[link]

As of 14:04, 14 November 2011 (UTC)^[19]

Team	Country	From	To	Record
				G	W	D	L	Win %
Ross County		4 October 2007	11 November 2010	&10000000000000154000000154	&1000000000000007000000070	&1000000000000004100000041	&1000000000000004300000043	&1000000000000004545000045.45
Ross County		15 May 2011	Present	&1000000000000001900000019	&1000000000000001200000012	&100000000000000040000004	&100000000000000030000003	&1000000000000006315999963.16
Total				&10000000000000173000000173	&1000000000000008200000082	&1000000000000004500000045	&1000000000000004600000046	&1000000000000004739999947.40

References[link]

External links[link]

• Derek Adams career stats at Soccerbase
• Derek Adams, www.neilbrown.newcastlefans.com

Paul the Apostle
Ananias of Damascus restores the sight of Saint Paul. A 1631 painting by Pietro Cortona.
Apostle to the Gentiles
Born	ca. AD 5[1] in Tarsus in Cilicia[2] (south-central Turkey)
Died	ca. AD 67[3] in Rome[3]
Honored in	All Christianity
Major shrine	Basilica of Saint Paul Outside the Walls
Feast	January 25 (The Conversion of Paul) February 10 (Feast of Saint Paul's Shipwreck in Malta) June 29 (Feast of Saints Peter and Paul) November 18 (Feast of the dedication of the basilicas of Saints Peter and Paul)
Attributes	Sword
Patronage	Missions; Theologians; Gentile Christians;

Paul the Apostle (c. AD 5 – c. AD 67; variously referred to as the "Apostle Paul" or "Saint Paul"),^[3] also known as Saul of Tarsus,^[4] is perhaps the most influential early Christian missionary. The writings ascribed to him by the church form a considerable portion of the New Testament. The influence on Christian thinking of the epistles ascribed to him has been significant,^[5][6] due in part to his association as a prominent apostle of Christianity during the spreading of the Gospel through early Christian communities across the Roman Empire.

According to the writings in the New Testament, Paul was known as Saul prior to his conversion, and was dedicated to the persecution of the early disciples of Jesus in the area of Jerusalem.^[7] While traveling from Jerusalem to Damascus on a mission to "bring them which were there bound unto Jerusalem", the resurrected Jesus appeared to him in a great light. Saul was struck blind, but after three days his sight was restored by Ananias of Damascus, and Paul began to preach that Jesus of Nazareth is the Jewish Messiah and the Son of God.^[8]