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Tributes to Paul Goggins MP


Paul Goggins MP

Paul Goggins MP

Tributes have been pouring in to ICN since the death of Paul Goggins MP was announced yesterday - from the many people who he worked with over the years, and whose lives he touched.

Church Action on Poverty

Niall Cooper from Church Action on Poverty writes: We were deeply saddened to learn today (8 January) that Paul Goggins has died.

Paul was Church Action on Poverty’s second National Coordinator, from 1989 until his election as an MP in 1997. He oversaw the development of Church Action on Poverty into a powerful voice for and on behalf of people experiencing poverty across the UK. This included establishing the Churches’ National Housing Coalition in 1990, and overseeing the groundbreaking ‘Local People National Voice’ project, which for the first time sought to give a platform for the voices of people with direct personal experience of poverty to be heard on the local and national stage. This culminated in the first National Poverty Hearing in Westminster Central Hall in 1996.

Niall Cooper, Paul’s successor and current Director of Church Action on Poverty, said: “Paul was a man of great personal warmth and deep conviction. His personal commitment to social justice and to championing the cause of people suffering from poverty and injustice both at home and abroad shone through in everything he did.

Paul will be missed hugely by all those who knew him personally or who were touched by his work. Our deepest sympathies and prayers in particular are with Wyn and the family on their tragic loss.”

Lewis Rose, Chair of Church Action on Poverty, said: “We very much appreciated Paul’s contribution in Church Action on Poverty, and later in Parliament, to tackling the issues of poverty and injustice. Our thoughts are with Paul’s family now.”

Christian Aid

Christine Allen is the Director of Policy and Public Affairs at Christian Aid. She formerly worked for Progressio, the Catholic Housing Aid Society, CAFOD and the Justice and Peace Commission of Liverpool Diocese. 

"It was with huge shock and sadness that I heard the news of Paul's death. It is an enormous loss to so many people, and my thoughts are with his family who are naturally devastated. They must be inconsolable at losing someone so young and vibrant.

Paul was an energetic, caring and deeply committed person who was enormously generous with his time and support. I've known him for more than 20 years - our friendship goes back to his days at Church Action on Poverty. Then as a young and inexperienced trustee, I learned so much and was so impressed by him as Director. It was no surprise that he entered Parliament. What was surprising perhaps, was that throughout he remained a person deeply committed to social justice and still found time to support people like me. Even at his busiest times, under enormous pressure, he was always open, warm and generous, offering advice, wisdom, introductions and a good few laughs on the way.

A dedicated City Fan (the true Manchester club as he would always remind you!), the trials and tribulations of being the less successful half of a city's football duos were never far from conversations. I think it would be a fitting tribute if City were to win the league - for such a sentiment to come from a Liverpool supporter shows just what kind of person Paul was!

There will be many tributes coming from far and wide. That just goes to show the depth and breadth of Paul's influence. Quite how many lives he has touched and made better as a result of his life's dedication to make the world a better place, we will never know. Paul, we can't comprehend why you were taken from us but thank God for you. RIP."

Cardinal Hume Centre

Cathy Corcoran chief executive of the Cardinal Hume Centre writes: 

A man with a passion for justice and a champion of all those living in poverty and homelessness.

We are deeply saddened at the death last night of our Chairman, Rt Hon Paul Goggins MP. Paul was Chairman of our Board of Trustees since April 2012 and a friend and supporter of the Cardinal Hume Centre for many years before that. His strong support, quality engagement, depth of experience and all his skills which he brought to his role here will be sorely missed by everyone associated with the Centre. But perhaps, above all, we will miss his kindness and compassion.

Our love, thoughts and prayers are with his family, friends and close colleagues, especially in his constituency office.

May he rest in peace.

(See earlier reports and tributes in ICN's Obituary and Tribute page.)

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