Malcolm Wicks

Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

Member of Parliament
for Croydon North
Croydon North West (1992–1997)
In office
9 April 1992 – 29 September 2012
Preceded byHumfrey Malins
Succeeded bySteve Reed
Personal details
Born1 July 1947
Hatfield, Hertfordshire, England
Died29 September 2012(2012-09-29) (aged 65)
London, England
Political partyLabour
SpouseMargaret Wicks
Residence(s)Croydon, London, England
Alma materUniversity of North London, London School of Economics
ProfessionAcademic

Malcolm Hunt Wicks (1 July 1947 – 29 September 2012) was a British Labour Party politician and academic specialising in social policy.[1] He was a member of parliament (MP) from 1992, first for Croydon North West and then for Croydon North, until his death in 2012.

Early life and education

Wicks was born in

North West London Polytechnic and the London School of Economics gaining a BSc in Sociology.[2]

Early career

From 1968 to 1970, he was a research fellow of the Department of Social Administration at the

fuel poverty led to him to act as a Trustee of the National Energy Foundation
(1988–94).

He was involved in politics in

Croydon Council
before his election to Parliament.

It was only revealed in his posthumous memoirs that in 1976 Wicks had leaked

Callaghan government from introducing means testing of child benefit.[3]

Parliamentary career

He was first elected in 1992 for Croydon North West after having previously contested the seat unsuccessfully in 1987.

Wicks was one of the few MPs whose

Carers (Recognition and Services) Act 1995 recognising the needs of family carers.[4]

He was Chairman of the

Minister of State for Science and Innovation
in the same department.

In Gordon Brown's first reshuffle on 28 June 2007, Wicks was moved to the Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform, which replaced the Department of Trade and Industry, to resume his old role as Minister for Energy. It is reported that Wicks was intended to serve in the cabinet, but the post-it note bearing his name and position fell onto the floor.[5] He was a vice-president of Carers UK and the Alzheimer's Society. Wicks stood down from the government in October 2008 for issues relating to a decommissioning scheme at Sellafield, accepting an appointment to the Privy Council and becoming the Prime Minister's special representative on international energy issues.[6] He emerged with an enhanced reputation during the MPs expenses scandal being deemed a "parliamentary angel."[1]

Wicks was re-elected as the MP for Croydon North on 6 May 2010 with an increased majority of 16,483.

Death

Wicks died on 29 September 2012, aged 65. He had been suffering from cancer.[2]

Personal life

Wicks married Margaret Baron in 1968 and they had a son and two daughters.

References

  1. ^ a b "Obituaries: Malcolm Wicks". Daily Telegraph. 1 October 2012. Retrieved 7 October 2012.
  2. ^ a b Julia Langdon (30 September 2012). "Malcolm Wicks obituary". The Guardian. Retrieved 21 October 2012.
  3. ^ "Late Labour MP Malcolm Wicks admits child benefit leak". BBC. 20 January 2014. Retrieved 20 January 2014.
  4. ^ "Cross-party tributes for former energy minister Wicks". BBC. 30 September 2012. Retrieved 30 September 2012.
  5. ^ "New Labour was even worse at reshuffles than Theresa May - Reaction". Reaction. 10 January 2018. Retrieved 25 January 2018.
  6. TheGuardian.com
    . 27 October 2008.

External links

Articles by Malcolm Wicks

Parliament of the United Kingdom
Preceded by Member of Parliament for Croydon North West
1992–1997 		Constituency abolished
New constituency Member of Parliament for Croydon North
1997–2012 		Succeeded by
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