Paul Goggins, the Labour MP and former minister, has died, a week after he collapsed while jogging.
The Wythenshawe and Sale East MP, who was renowned for his work in child protection, tackling poverty and in Northern Ireland, died on Tuesday night with his wife, Wyn, and three grown-up children, Matthew, Theresa and Dominic, by his bedside in hospital.
Tributes were paid from across the political spectrum after news of his death broke, with many commenting on how highly respected he was across parties.
Goggins, 60, was taken to hospital on 30 December after he collapsed while out jogging. His death came as a shock to friends, who commented on how he was fit and had recently completed a charity bike ride for a campaign by Leukaemia & Lymphoma Research to beat blood cancers.
He was treated for a suspected brain haemorrhage and remained seriously ill at Salford Royal.
His death was announced by his family, who said: “Last night Paul Goggins, our dear dad and husband, died in hospital in Salford with us by his side. We are completely heartbroken.
“He had been very ill since collapsing last week. The way in which he has been cared for at Salford Royal has been such a comfort to us and we can’t thank the staff enough for this.
“We have been overwhelmed by the support and good wishes we have received from so many people – a real sign of love and a reflection of the sort of person Paul/Dad was.
“We would also like to thank the media for continuing to respect our privacy at such a difficult time.”
Desperately sad to hear that Paul Goggins MP has died. We worked together for 3 years when he was Prisons Minister and it was a privilege.
— Sir Martin Narey (@martinnarey) January 8, 2014
Paul Goggins was one of the good guys-he achieved much for kids in care he especially championed & 4 whom it was a pleasure to work with him
— Tim Loughton MP (@timloughton) January 8, 2014
He was also really fit, which adds to shock and sadness. Did a @beatbloodcancer bike ride with him not that long ago. Paul Goggins RIP
— Alastair Campbell (@campbellclaret) January 8, 2014
Speaking in the House of Commons, the Labour leader Ed Miliband paid warm tribute to Goggins.
“Paul’s family is devastated and heartbroken by his death,” he said. “They are not alone. The Labour Party has lost one of its most dignified, humane, wise and loyal MPs.
“Our thoughts and our deep condolences go out first and foremost to his wife Wyn, and his children, Matthew, Theresa and Dominic. They have lost a husband and a father for whom family was at the heart of everything he held most dear.
“Paul was a man of deep faith whose commitment and strong values shone through everything he did. As a social worker, councillor, MP and minister, attending to the needs of the most disadvantaged was always at the core of his particularly thoughtful and dedicated service.
“He was held in great affection by the people of Northern Ireland for his real understanding of the challenges they faced in the aftermath of the Good Friday Agreement … The Labour Party has lost one of its very best and one of its own. We mourn him deeply.”
David Cameron also paid tribute to Goggins, who served as minister of state in the Northern Ireland Office, having previously served as prisons and probations minister in the Home Office.
“He was a kind and a brilliant man who believed profoundly in public service.
“Paul cared deeply about the welfare of children and the importance of social work. He brought his own very clear experience to bear as an MP and as a minister… He was liked and admired right across the House and always treated everyone, in whatever circumstances, with respect. He will be greatly missed and we send our condolences to his wife Wyn, to his children and to his family,” said the prime minister as year’s first prime minister’s questions began.
Condolences were also expressed by members of the Lib Dems, including the former party leader Sir Menzies Campbell, who said:
“Paul Goggins embodied all the best qualities of an outstanding MP. Both as a minister and as a constituency MP, he was thorough, committed and professional.”
Goggins, who was born in Manchester and trained as a social worker, began his political career as a councillor in Salford during the 1990s.
He was elected to the House of Commons in 1997 for the seat of Wythenshawe and Sale East – a constituency he held for the rest of his life.
He was appointed junior Home Office minister in 2003, having worked as David Blunkett’s parliamentary aide. In 2006, he served in the Northern Ireland Office, and in 2010, he became a member of parliament’s intelligence and security committee.
He was someone who was in a different mould to the rest of us. David Blunkett MP
In 2006, Goggins launched the Child Exploitation and Online Protection centre, bringing his social work and home office experience into the role.
He was also a co-founder of the all party parliamentary group Friends of Cafod, serving as an unpaid board member at the Catholic aid agency between 1998 and 2003.
Bishop John Arnold, who chairs Cafod’s board of trustees, said that Goggins’ committment to helping others “anchored in his strong Catholic faith, served as an inspiration to us all during his lifetime, and that inspiration will live on in the years to come”.
Trafford Council also paid tribute. Leader Matt Colledge said: “I can honestly say that Paul was one of the most genuine, caring committed and sincere people I have had the pleasure to meet. The outpourings since news of his death broke are testimony to the man himself.
“As a politician he cared passionately for his constituents, those in most need or under-represented. I know he had the cross-party respect of his peers. In parliament he never failed to fight and speak up for local people and do everything he could to make their lives better.”
His death was also mourned by Action for Children, who described Goggins as “a friend to many of us in the children’s sector”.
The charity’s Matt Downie said: “His achievements as a backbench MP show what can be done if a politician focuses on issues rather than allegiances. Paul had more respect amongst his ‘rival’ parties than anyone I have ever worked with.”
“As David Blunkett said in his tribute to Paul, he was ‘someone who was in a different mould to the rest of us’.”