Politicians have continued to pay tribute to Croydon North MP Malcolm Wicks who died yesterday.

The 65-year-old who had been fighting cancer, became an MP for Croydon North West in 1992, and has represented Croydon North since 1997.

Councillor Mike Fisher, leader of Croydon Council said Mr Wicks would be a ‘hard act to follow.’

He said: “Malcolm Wicks was a dedicated constituency MP, a champion of Croydon and a thoroughly decent man who was always considered in his opinions and polite in delivering them.

“He worked with councils of both political persuasions in the interest of the town and was a pragmatic and responsible politician.”

Ex-Prime Minsters Tony Blair and Gordon Brown were among politicians from across the political divide to mourn Mr Wicks.

Mr Blair described the former energy minster as a ‘wonderful colleague’ who would be ‘greatly missed.’

He said: “I worked closely with him for many years.

"He had a very basic principle that guided his life, to do what he could for others, to serve, to be committed and to work hard for causes that were always about helping those who needed it most.

“He had complete integrity in all he did both as an MP for Croydon and a minster and was immensely popular across the political divide.”

Mr Wicks, a married father and grandfather, represented Croydon for 20 years and held a variety of ministerial roles under both Tony Blair and Gordon Brown.

He stepped down from Government in 2008 and spent two years as the prime minster’s special representative on international energy issues.

In 2010, Mr Wicks who was also made a member of the Privy Council retained the seat he first won in 1992, boosting his majority by more than 2,500.

Speaking last night, Gordon Brown said: “Tonight we mourn the passing of Malcolm who was a great thinker, writer, campaigner and parliamentarian.

“He was a passionate advocate of social justice, a conscientious constituency MP and a great minster in the Labour government.

“I talked to him during his long period of ill-health and I marvelled at his courage and tenacity in fighting his illness. He will be sorely missed and our thoughts are with his family.”

Respects continued to be paid from across the political spectrum.

Liberal Democrat Energy Secretary Ed Davey said: “As well as being a respected parliamentarian, Malcolm’s knowledge and passion on energy issues commanded huge respect, and we are all the poorer for his passing.”

Eric Pickles, the Conservative Communities Secretary said on Twitter he was “very sad to learn of the death of Malcolm Wicks, he was a man of great wit and humanity.”