Parliamentarian of the Year: the winners
THE 18th annual Parliamentarian of the Year awards, sponsored by The Spectator and, for the first time, by Zurich Financial Services, were presented by the Home Secretary, the Rt Hon. David Blunkett, MP, the guest of honour at the awards presentation luncheon held at the Mandarin Oriental Hotel, London. The guests were welcomed by Sandy Leitch, chief executive of Zurich Financial Services. The chairman of the judges, Boris Johnson, editor of The Spectator, read out the judges' choices and the reasons for them.
Parliamentarian of the Year The RI Hon. David Trimble, MP IT seems extraordinary that the judges have not previously recognised his achievements. He has played a huge and distinguished part in the Northern Ireland peace process. He is by no means as partisan as some of his enemies have suggested: for instance, he has never possessed a bowler hat. Such have been his talents for managing warring factions that he has even been identified by the editor of the Daily Telegraph as a future leader of the Conservative party. The judges were determined to record their admiration not just for his statesmanship, but for the regularity with which he attends the Commons, and in so doing puts some other party leaders to shame.
Minister to Watch: Ruth Kelly, MP ONE sporting member of the panel has likened the speed and acceleration of her career to a rocketing pheasant. By the age of 21 she was a Guardian leader writer; by 26 she was a big wheel in the Bank of England; and she is now Economic Secretary to the Treasury, and one of those responsible, among other things, for overseeing firms such as Zurich; though it should be stressed that this award is not merely tactful. She has contrived to have three children since entering Parliament in 1997, and since she overachieves on such an epic scale, some have suggested that, like the Eagle sisters, she is really a pair of identical twins. In her opposition to the politically correct New Labour line on cloning and eugenics, she has struck a blow against secular fundamentalism.
Shadow Minister to Watch: Oliver Letwin, MP THIS brilliant man caught the public eye during the election campaign; or it would be more accurate to say that he disappeared from the public eye, after he was caught saying that the Tories would cut £20 billion in tax. This may seem like rather a small amount to cut from general government spending of more than £400 billion, especially when that reduction is aggregated over four years. His remark was nonetheless viewed as a gaffe by the Tory powers that be — or the powers that were — and he disappeared into darkest Dorset, pursued by Labour dogs. In fact, this man from Hardy country rivalled Jude in his obscurity. We are thankful that he is now on view again. On him rest the hopes of many who think the Tories are forgotten because they have forgotten how to think. Like his former boss, Keith Joseph, he is famous for his blurting candour.
Backbencher of the Year Andrew Mackinlay, MP THE judges' eyes were caught some time ago by his magnificent speeches on behalf of soldiers shot for desertion and cowardice during the first world war. He has the inestimable virtue in a backbench MP of not wanting to achieve ministerial office. This award is intended to recognise not just Mr Mackinlay but also Parliament First, a group of MPs dedicated to restoring Parliament's primacy in British politics.
Inquisitor of the Year: Norman Baker, MP MR BAKER will go to his grave with the distinction of having felled Peter Mandelson, for the second time in that extraordinary ex-minister's career. Many will by now have forgotten the details of the phone call to Mike O'Brien, or whether the passport in question was intended for Srichand or Gopichand Hinduja; indeed, most of the population will have forgotten what it was about altogether. It is our intention, however, that we should not forget the role of Mr Baker. He plunged the stake through Mr Mande!son's heart by a technique no more fearsome than the patient and persistent use of the parliamentary question. These cost the taxpayer about £100 a
time in the case of Mr Manclelson, the Dome and the Hinduja passports, they were worth every penny.
Debater of the Year: George Galloway, MP THE judges were bitterly divided over this award, because of his views on Middle Eastern questions. Some were scandalised by his decision to go to Iraq and to speak in favour of Saddam Hussein — a client whom even Max Clifford might scruple to adopt — until it was pointed out that the Prime Minister had recently taken tea with President Assad of Syria. As one judge remarked, it would have been a 'disgrace' not to reward 'a man who has made three of the most brilliant speeches of the last 12 months'. This was an award for oratory.
Special Award: Elizabeth Filkin, QC THE parliamentary commissioner for standards has been unflagging in her zeal to ensure that honourable members are indeed honourable. To her goes the credit for unravelling some of the mysteries of Geoffrey Robinson's cheque for £200,000, which was somehow paid in but not cashed. Her imminent departure will come as a relief to some, but not to the judges, who esteem her highly.
The judges were: Elinor Goodman of Channel 4 News, Simon Hoggart of the Guardian, Frank Johnson of the Daily Telegraph, George Jones of the Daily Telegraph, Trevor Kavanagh of the Sun, Andrew Marr of the BBC, Peter Oborne of The Spectator, Matthew Parris of the Times, Alan Watkins of the Independent and Michael White of the Guardian.
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