Tony Blair and Gordon Brown lead tributes to dead Croydon MP Malcolm Wicks

 
30 September 2012
WEST END FINAL

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Former prime ministers Gordon Brown and Tony Blair led tributes to former Labour energy minister Malcolm Wicks, who has died at 65.

Mr Brown called the Croydon North MP, who had been fighting cancer, a "great thinker, writer, campaigner and parliamentarian", while Mr Blair said he had "complete integrity in all he did".

Labour leader Ed Miliband praised him as a "thoroughly decent, intelligent and compassionate man" whose death yesterday left a "huge hole" in the party.

"He was a brilliant energy minister, he was a deep thinker about welfare and pensions, and Labour to his core," Mr Miliband said.

"Malcolm was also a dedicated constituency MP, always putting the needs of his Croydon constituents first. He was a brilliant campaigner.

"The way he handled his illness tells you everything about the man. He showed huge dignity and also kept on thinking, writing and advising right to the end.

"I have lost a wise confidant and most importantly a dear friend and the Labour Party has lost one of its sharpest thinkers. Our thoughts go to Malcolm's wife, Margaret, and his family."

Mr Wicks represented Croydon in Parliament for two decades, and held a variety of ministerial briefs under Tony Blair and Gordon Brown - including pensions, science and energy.

The married father and grandfather stepped down from the government in 2008 and spent two years as the prime minister's special representative on international energy issues. He was also made a member of the Privy Council.

Mr Wicks was re-elected with an increased majority of nearly 16,500 at the 2010 general election.

He is understood to have been unwell for some time.

Former Labour prime minister Gordon Brown said last night: "Tonight we mourn the passing of Malcolm Wicks, who was a great thinker, writer, campaigner and parliamentarian.

"He was a passionate advocate of social justice, a conscientious constituency MP and a great minister in the Labour government.

"I talked to him during his long period of ill-health and I marvelled at his courage and tenacity in fighting his illness. He will be sorely missed and our thoughts are with his family."

His predecessor Mr Blair added: "Malcolm was a wonderful colleague. I worked closely with him for many years.

"He had a very basic principle that guided his life: to do what he could for others, to serve, to be committed and to work hard for causes that were always about helping those who needed it most.

"He had complete integrity in all he did and both as an MP for Croydon and a minister was immensely popular across the political divide. He will be greatly missed."

Politicians from other parties added their voices to the tributes.

Lib Dem Energy Secretary Ed Davey said: "This is very sad news, and my thoughts are with Malcolm's family at this time. As well as being a respected parliamentarian, Malcolm's knowledge and passion on energy issues commanded huge respect, and we are all the poorer for his passing."

Posting on Twitter, Tory Communities Secretary Eric Pickles wrote: "Very sad to learn of the death of Malcolm Wicks, he was a man of great wit and humanity."

Welsh Secretary David Jones said he was "shocked", writing: "A gentleman in every sense, he was always very kind to me."

Former foreign secretary David Miliband said Mr Wicks had been a "deep thinker, honest politician, real reformer, brave fighter", while Gavin Barwell, Conservative MP for neighbouring Croydon Central, said: "A great MP for Croydon North and good friend. Drive home from SW1 won't be the same without him."

Delegates at the Labour Party Conference in Manchester stood for a minute's silence in memory of Mr Wicks.

Maggie Mansell, chairwoman of the Croydon North Constituency Labour Party, said: "Malcolm was first and foremost a family man... we want to give them time as a family to feel their loss.

"Malcolm was a leader. He inspired everyone who worked with him to do their best and then do better."

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