Paul Goggins MP dies

Paul Goggins MP has died just over a week after collapsing while jogging with his son on New Year’s eve. Member of Parliament for Wythenshawe and Sale East, Greater Manchester, Goggins was respected in Westminster and known in the tyre and wheel industry for his for his efforts to raise the standards of checks on HGV wheels and their suppliers. Indeed it was this work that won him the Parliamentarian of the Month’ award which was presented by road safety charity Brake and Direct Line.

Throughout all this work Goggins collaborated with local constituent and specialist wheel supplier Motor Wheel Service (MWS). Following the news, managing director John Ellis spoke of his sadness at the news of Paul Goggins’ passing.

“It is with great shock and sadness that we learn that Paul has passed away, and our thoughts are foremost with his family and friends. In every dealing with Paul we have found him to be a compassionate, honest and trustworthy man, and the work he has undertaken during our four-year wheel safety campaign shows his commitment to his constituency and his respected position in Parliament. We will continue to push the Department for Transport on this key commercial vehicle safety issue with renewed vigour, and bring about a positive outcome to the work we began together in 2010.”

Born in Manchester, Paul Goggins trained as a social worker before running a children’s home. Prior to entering Parliament he was director of the Church Action on Poverty. He began his parliamentary career working as parliamentary private secretary to David Blunkett who was then Education Secretary. He moved with Blunkett when the latter was promoted to home secretary. In 2003 Goggins became a Home Office minister before going to the Northern Ireland Office in 2006. In addition to this Goggins had been a member of the Intelligence and Security Committee since 2010.