Paul Goggins

Paul Goggins was first elected Labour MP for Wythenshawe and Sale East in May 1997.

He was born in Manchester in 1953 and was a pupil at St Bede’s College, before going on to train as a social worker.

Prior to his election he was the director of Church Action on Poverty, a national church-based campaigning organisation. He was also a councillor in Salford (1990-1998).

Paul was a member of the House of Commons Social Security Select Committee until October 1998 when he was appointed Parliamentary Private Secretary (PPS) to John Denham, then the Minister of State at the Department of Social Security. He moved with John to the Department of Health in January 1999.

In December 2000 he was appointed PPS to David Blunkett, Secretary of State at the Department for Education and Employment and moved with David to the Home Office in June 2001.

In May 2003 he was appointed Minister for Prisons and Probation.

After the May 2005 election, Paul was reappointed as a minister in the Home Office with responsibility for:

Serious and organised crime

Drugs

Asset Recovery Agency

Security Industry Authority

Public order, sex offences, roads policing, animal extremism, internet crime, child pornography and football

Voluntary and community sector, community cohesion, faith and race equality.

Paul is the co-founder of the All Party Parliamentary Friends of CAFOD group and is Secretary of the All Party Parliamentary Group on Poverty.

Paul is married with three children and is a season ticket holder at Manchester City Football Club.