The Threadneedle/Spectator Parliamentarian of the Year Awards
Last Thursday the 24th annual Threadneedle/Spectator Parliamentarian of the Year lunch was held in front of a roomful of the great and good at Claridges, and — this being the first ever live ‘vodcast’ award ceremony — in front of thousands of web-watchers worldwide as well. Matthew d’Ancona, editor of The Spectator, welcomed the Rt Hon John Reid MP to present the awards, saying: ‘As Home Secretary, he showed that the spirit of The Sweeney is not dead, metaphorically hurling substandard officials on to the bonnet of his Cortina, investing the words “not fit for purpose” with new and chilling meaning.’
NEWCOMER OF THE YEAR
Nick Clegg MP
This former journalist, Eurocrat, MEP and cross-party pin-up has achieved ascendancy in his party with prodigious speed. There were those who thought he should have stood for the leadership in the last contest, but Clegg knew there’d be another one along in a minute, and he is now the runaway favourite to succeed Ming Campbell.
INQUISITOR OF THE YEAR
Michael Connarty MP
This year’s winner stormed to prominence with a devastating critique of the EU Reform Treaty. His European Scrutiny Select Committee demonstrated in cool analysis and then heated face-to-face exchanges that the Reform Treaty was substantially the same as the fallen Constitution and that the deal Britain had struck was not quite as marvellous as ministers claimed.
PEER OF THE YEAR
The Rt Hon the Baroness Thatcher
This year’s award went to a peer who is, in fact, without peer. The judges were struck not only by her continued grip on the national imagination but by the enthusiasm with which senior parliamentary figures — not to mention visiting international statesmen — still flock to her side.
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