Former Labour energy minister Malcolm Wicks dies

Former Labour energy minister Malcolm Wicks has died after battling cancer. The Croydon North MP became an MP first for Croydon North West and then took Croydon North after boundary changes in 1992.

He was twice an energy minister during Labour’s eleven years in power and ended his career as Gordon Brown’s special envoy on international energy issues. He wrote a report on energy security. As an academic before entering Parliament he wrote a book on fuel poverty.

Political colleagues and opponents lined up to praise Wicks who died aged 65. Former Labour leader Blair described the former energy minster as a”‘wonderful colleague” who would be”‘greatly missed.”

He said: “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 both as an MP for Croydon and a minster and was immensely popular across the political divide.”

Ex-PM Gordon Brown said: “We mourn the passing of Malcolm who was a great thinker, writer, campaigner and parliamentarian.

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

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

Liberal Democrat energy secretary Ed Davey said: “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.”