SPECTATOR/HIGHLAND PARK AWARDS
Parliamentarian
of the year the winners
The sixth annual presentation of the Spectator/Highland Park Parliamentarian of the Year Awards took place on Wednes- day 22 November. The awards were pre- sented by Lord Hailsham, the guest of honour, at a luncheon in the Savoy Hotel. The guests were welcomed by Mr John Goodwin, Managing Director of Highland Distilleries, and by Mr Algy Cluff, Chair- man of The Spectator.
The chairman of the judges, Charles Moore, the editor of The Spectator, read out the judges' remarks and citations: `This was an extremely interesting year in British politics and some, though not enough, of the excitement was reflected in the proceedings of Parliament. There were a few occasions when parliamentary de- bates really did succeed in their traditional function of holding the Government to
`The only MP of any party immediately to question the rightness of the shootings in Gibraltar
account. For the first time since these awards began, Labour was on top. The Opposition at last showed the ability to discomfit the Government (although the Government showed an equally remark- able capacity to discomfit itself).
`It was not a vintage year, perhaps, but the judges already feel nostalgic about it. It was the last of the pre-television age of innocence. The judges fear that, so far as the public is concerned, seeing will not lead to believing.
'As before, we have changed some categories and kept others. As always, we have discovered a Member to Watch: Mr Charles Kennedy, MP for Ross, Cromarty and Skye. This still extremely youthful Member of Parliament is the only one on his bench who can command a hearing in the House of Commons. He carries an authority beyond his years. Mr Kennedy sometimes appears on the radio with the Member for Grimsby and the Member for Aldershot: the judges fear that he may be falling into bad habits. But they are confi- dent that Mr Kennedy will rise to the top of whichever party he chooses to join.
Backbencher of the Year: Mr Eric Hef- fer, MP for Liverpool Walton. Mr Heffer is most vociferous. In past years, he has loudly demanded to know why he has not been given an award. This year, the judges could think of no good reason to deny him one. Behind the loud voice lies a remark- ably subtle knowledge of parliamentary procedure, a strong affection for the House of Commons and a subversive spirit of independence. His best interruption this year was to demand of his own side's Mr John Smith's new policy on the EMS, `When did the Labour Party ever discuss this'?' He was also the only MP of any party immediately to question the rightness of the shootings in Gibraltar. The judges feel that Mr Heifer now enjoys an Indian summer, popular with his Tory opponents and an elder statesman of the Left on his own benches.
'Wit of the Year: Mr Neil Hamilton, MP for Tatton. In a year in which party strife has been most unhumorous, Mr Hamilton has brought a witty intelligence to the fray. So successful has he been in his interven- tions against the Shadow Treasury team that they no longer dare to give way to him in debates. The judges particularly enjoyed his extravagant defence of the honours system against a puritanical ten-minute rule Bill designed to abolish it. They report that Mr Hamilton has even managed to make his chairmanship of the committee on the King's Cross Bill an entertaining affair.
'Debater of the Year: Mr John Prescott, MP for Hull East. Last year's winner, Mr Robin Cook, was the rapier. This year's winner is the bludgeon. Mr Prescott eschews the style of the Oxford Union, and even the seamen's union might occasional- ly be embarrassed by the fierceness of his language. But the judges do not believe that there is one, ideal parliamentary manner, and they note that Mr Prescott's chosen method has been highly effective. Exiled by his leader to the Siberia of Transport, he came out fighting, success- fully arraigning the Government for what he considered to be the cheapskate policies that gave rise to the terrible accidents of recent years. Mr Prescott is the sort of oncoming vehicle to whom ministers try to give a wide berth. One or two have been run off the road.
'Speech of the Year: Mr Nigel Lawson, MP for Blaby. This is a new and probably unrepeatable award. A successful resigna- tion is one of the most difficult political accomplishments, and the resignation speech in Parliament tends either to be too bland or to taste too much of sour grapes. The judges agreed that nothing became Mr Lawson's Chancellorship like his leaving of it. One of the more venerable of our number claimed that it was even better than Aneurin Bevan's resignation speech in 1951. It was pithy, clear, dignified and devastating.
'Parliamentarian of the Year: Mr John Smith, MP for Monklands East. The lead- ing discomfiter of the Government was Mr
6 Mr Smith exactly penetrated Mr Lawson's innermost thoughts and riled him successfully Smith. As Shadow Chancellor, Mr Smith reaped the benefit of a bad year for the British economy, and, as his opposite number became increasingly, in the now famous description "unassailable", he moved in for the kill. Mr Smith exactly penetrated Mr Lawson's innermost thoughts and riled him successfully about Sir Alan Walters in the House of Com- mons. Two days later Mr Lawson resigned. In the following week's economic debate, Mr Smith pressed home his advantage against Mr Lawson's hapless successor, although in the debate on the Autumn Statement last week his touch seemed less sure. In reaching their decision, some of the judges doubted whether Mr Smith had really won the policy arguments, but they all agreed that he had scored more than one parliamentary triumph, using dry wit, quick thinking, a touch of anger and the clever lawyer's instinct for the opponent's weakness. Mr Smith now has the unique achievement of becoming Parliamentarian of the Year for the second time. The judges hope that this does not make him too big for his boots.
`The judges were Noel Malcolm of The Spectator, Alan Watkins of the Observer, Colin Welch of the Daily Mail, Ian Aitken of the Guardian and Simon Heifer of the Daily Telegraph. They wish, as in previous years, to emphasise that they do not claim any superior authority for their awards, and offer them only in affection and respect for the Houses of Parliament.'
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