Malcolm Wicks facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Malcolm Wicks
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Wicks in 2005
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| Minister of State for Energy | |
| In office 28 June 2007 – 5 October 2008 |
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| Prime Minister | Gordon Brown |
| Preceded by | The Lord Truscott |
| Succeeded by | Mike O'Brien |
| In office 11 May 2005 – 10 November 2006 |
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| Prime Minister | Tony Blair |
| Preceded by | Mike O'Brien |
| Succeeded by | The Lord Truscott |
| Minister of State for Science and Innovation | |
| In office 10 November 2006 – 28 June 2007 |
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| Prime Minister | Tony Blair |
| Preceded by | The Lord Sainsbury of Turville |
| Succeeded by | Ian Pearson |
| Minister of State for Pensions | |
| In office 13 June 2003 – 6 May 2005 |
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| Prime Minister | Tony Blair |
| Preceded by | Ian McCartney |
| Succeeded by | Stephen Timms |
| Member of Parliament for Croydon North Croydon North West (1992–1997) |
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| In office 9 April 1992 – 29 September 2012 |
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| Preceded by | Humfrey Malins |
| Succeeded by | Steve Reed |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 1 July 1947 Hatfield, Hertfordshire, England |
| Died | 29 September 2012 (aged 65) London, England |
| Political party | Labour |
| Spouse | Margaret Wicks |
| Residences | Croydon, London, England |
| Alma mater | University of North London, London School of Economics |
| Profession | Academic |
Malcolm Hunt Wicks (born July 1, 1947 – died September 29, 2012) was a British Labour Party politician. He was also an academic who studied social policy. Social policy looks at how governments help people in society.
Malcolm Wicks was a Member of Parliament (MP) from 1992 until he passed away in 2012. He represented the areas of Croydon North West and later Croydon North.
Early Life and Education
Malcolm Wicks was born in Hatfield, England. His father, Arthur Wicks, was also involved in politics. He was a Labour member of the London County Council and later the Greater London Council. These were important local government bodies in London.
Malcolm went to Elizabeth College, Guernsey, a school in Guernsey. He then studied at North West London Polytechnic and the London School of Economics. He earned a degree in Sociology, which is the study of how societies work.
Career Before Parliament
Before becoming an MP, Malcolm Wicks worked in various research and teaching roles. From 1968 to 1970, he was a researcher at the University of York. He also worked at the Centre for Environmental Studies.
He was a lecturer in Social Administration at Brunel University from 1970 to 1974. He also worked for the Home Office, which is a UK government department. There, he analyzed social policies from 1974 to 1977.
Malcolm Wicks was very interested in how policies affect families. He became the research director for the Study Commission on the Family. Later, he led the Family Policy Studies Centre from 1983 to 1992. He wrote many books and papers about social issues. One of his concerns was "fuel poverty," which means people struggling to afford heating for their homes. He was a trustee for the National Energy Foundation.
He was also active in local politics in Croydon. He led his local Labour Party group and ran for election to the Croydon Council.
Malcolm Wicks was known for his strong beliefs. In 1976, he shared important information to help prevent a government policy. This policy would have made it harder for families to get financial help for their children. His actions helped ensure families continued to receive support.
Parliamentary Career
Malcolm Wicks was first elected as an MP in 1992. He represented Croydon North West. He had tried to win this seat before in 1987.
As an MP, he worked hard to make new laws. He was one of the few MPs whose own proposed law became official. This was the Carers (Recognition and Services) Act 1995. This law helped recognize the important role of family members who care for others.
He served as the Chairman of the Education Select Committee from 1998 to 1999. A select committee is a group of MPs who look closely at specific government departments. In July 1999, he became a Minister. He was the Minister for Lifelong Learning in the Department for Education and Employment. This role focused on helping people learn throughout their lives.
In 2001, he moved to the Department for Work and Pensions. He spent four years there, first as a junior minister, then as the Minister of State for Pensions. This meant he helped manage the UK's pension system.
In May 2005, he became the Minister for Energy. This role was in the Department of Trade and Industry. He was responsible for energy policies in the UK. In November 2006, he became the Minister of State for Science and Innovation in the same department.
In June 2007, when Gordon Brown became Prime Minister, Malcolm Wicks returned to his role as Minister for Energy. This time, it was in the new Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform. He was a vice-president for charities like Carers UK and the Alzheimer's Society.
In October 2008, he stepped down from his government role. He was then appointed to the Privy Council. This is a group of senior advisors to the Queen. He also became the Prime Minister's special representative for international energy issues. This meant he advised on energy matters around the world.
During the MPs expenses scandal, Malcolm Wicks was seen as very honest. He was called a "parliamentary angel" because his financial records were very clear and proper.
He was re-elected as the MP for Croydon North in May 2010. He won with a much larger number of votes than before.
Death
Malcolm Wicks passed away on September 29, 2012, at the age of 65. He had been battling cancer.
Personal Life
Malcolm Wicks married Margaret Baron in 1968. They had a son and two daughters together.
