SPECTATOR/HIGHLAND PARK AWARDS
Parliamentarian of the Year the winners
The fifth annual presentation of the Spectator/Highland Park Parliamentarian of the Year Awards took place on Wednesday 22 November. The awards were presented by Lord Whitelaw, the guest of honour, at a luncheon in the River Room of the Savoy Hotel. The guests were welcomed by Mr John Goodwin, Managing Director of Highland Dis- tilleries, and by Mr Algy Cluff, Chairman of The Spectator.
The chairman of the judges, Charles Moore, the editor of The Spectator, read out the judges' remarks and citations: The parliamentary year has been over- burdened with legislation, some of it rather rushed. The standard of debate in the House of Commons did not usually rise to the challenge. The judges noticed a growing yobbish tendency on the Conservative back benches. On the Labour benches they found a higher standard of individual performances than in recent years, but a persistent lack of organisation and a general air of gloom. The minor parties had a very bad year, although Dr Owen still comands attention when he speaks.
`Once again, the House of Lords proved 4 Sir George Young is disting- uished for his quiet determina- tion and his sense of honour itself lively, disrespectful of government and well-informed in debate.
`As before, we have kept some categories and changed others. A category which we have used every year is `Member to Watch: Mr Tony Blair, MP for Sedgefield. There was slight dispute about this award, but only for the bad reason that Mr Blair has been regarded as watchable ever since he came into the House of Commons. We agreed, however, that he is now more watchable than ever, and that, shadowing both trade and Industry and energy, he has distinguished himself for his acuteness in attack and his polish in presentation. If there are higher things for his party he will go on to them.
`Backbencher of the Year: Sir George Young, Bart, MP for Ealing Acton. Backbenchers can be distinguished for pugnacity. This one is distinguished for his quiet determination and sense of honour. In leading the revolt against the poll tax and countering the tax with sophisticated alternative proposals Sir George Young gave the Government a nasty fright and produced a high level of argument. And as if to prove that he was not an automatic rebel, he also made the best backbench speech in favour of the charges for eye and dental checks. He has raised the tone of debate and asserted the independence of the back benches.
`Whip of the Year: Lord Denham. We have never given an award to a Whip 4 Lord Denham has had to use aristocratic charm to coax doz- ing Lord Emsworths from their country seats before. They are not usually popular men. But Lord Denham manages to be popular and yet to do his job well. And this year his job has been uniquely difficult. Lacking the disciplinary sanctions of the House of Commons he has had to use the more aristocratic arts of charm and gentle persuasion to coax scores of dozing Lord Emsworths from their country seats. In this he has succeeded, and without any sacrifice of the good humour of the Upper House. (This is also the first award we have ever given to a peer.) `Debater of the Year: Mr Robin Cook, MP for Livingston. This was a close-run thing. Nineteen eighty-eight has been the year of the clever Scot. Mr Gordon Brown made a particularly impressive showing in this role. But in the end the judges decided that no Scot was cleverer and no debater more effective than Mr Cook. They particularly had in mind his demolition of `And occasional acid showers.' the Health and Social Services Secretary early in the year. As a result, the Government was forced to split the office in two. Mr Cook is feared on the government benches, which is the best compliment that can be paid to a parliamentary debater.
`Personal Award: Mr Ken Maginnis, MP for Fermanagh and South Tyrone. Members of Parliament have grown so used to the agony of Northern Ireland and so bored by its politics that its representatives in Parliament seldom get much attention or respect. Sometimes they are suspected of making political capital out of suffering. This is not the case with Mr Maginnis whose constituents, at Enniskillen and on the border, have suffered particularly grievously. With straightforward decency and considerable courage, Mr Maginnis has spoken for them and won the right to be heard. This award is for an entirely personal achievement.
`Parliamentarian of the Year: Mr Edward Heath, MP for Old Bexley and Sidcup. One of the best tests of a parliamentarian is whether the Chamber fills when his name appears on the screen.
4 Mr Heath's speeches make more than mere trouble. They are the eloquent performances of a statesman, Mr Heath comes top in this test. Members partly like to hear him, of course, because they believe that he will make mischief for the Government. They are usually not disappointed. But the judges felt that his parliamentary speeches make more than mere trouble. They are the eloquent performances of a statesman. Delivered with considerable wit and without the rancour that some have detected in extra- parliamentary utterances, Mr Heath's speeches are major contributions to public argument. They address vital questions of the hour and are prophetic of difficulties and opportunities ahead. Mr Heath makes impressive use of the Chamber of the House of Commons. None of the judges is particularly close to Mr Heath's opinions: all of them admire the way he delivers them in Parliament.
`The judges were Noel Malcolm of The Spectator, Alan Watkins of the Observer, Colin Welch of the Daily Mail, Ian Aitken of the Guardian, Peter Riddell of the Financial Times. 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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