Labour MP Croydon North

Date of birth

1 July 1947

Political profile

One of the most intellectually able ministers in the government, Malcolm Wicks was the director of the Family Policy Studies Centre until his election to the Commons in 1992.

He is an expert on social policy and the benefit system, and a prolific academic author on the subject.

He joined the opposition frontbench soon after his election but was left out of the government after Labour's 1997 victory.

He became instead chair of the Education sub-committee, before entering office in 1999 as minister for lifelong learning responsible for seeing the Education and Skills Act through the Commons.

Following the 2001 election, he became a junior minister in the Department for Work and Pensions.

He was promoted to minister of state at the same department in the June 2003 reshuffle.

Contact

Constituency office 020 8665 1214

wicksm@parliament.uk