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MPs and peers in line for charity awards
The shortlist of MPs and peers has been announced for ePolitix.com's Charity Champion Awards.
Cabinet minister Hilary Armstrong unveiled the nominees on Wednesday for the fourth annual awards, which recognise parliamentarians' campaigning work in support of good causes.
Candidates, nominated by charities themselves, include front and backbenchers from all sides of both houses, with winners to be decided by a vote among members of the Commons and Lords.
Opposition leader David Cameron, who has said a previous disabilities champion award is his "proudest achievement", has been nominated again, this time in the environment category for his work in raising the issue of global warming up the political and public agenda.
Nominating charity the Woodland Trust said Cameron had "consistently strived to ensure that the environment is promoted to the heart of political debate where it belongs".
The Tory chief is up against his policy review chairman Oliver Letwin, who has been jointly nominated with Liberal Democrat backbencher Norman Baker for their work in trying to forge a cross-party consensus on climate change.
Former environment minister Elliot Morley has also been nominated, as has Labour MP Emily Thornberry.
International development secretary Hilary Benn has been nominated for the international champion award, as has SDLP leader Mark Durkan, Labour's Tom Clarke and Lib Dem Baroness Nicholson.
In the older people's category, transport secretary Douglas Alexander is another cabinet minister nominated, where he is up against ministerial colleagues Vera Baird and Liam Byrne and crossbencher Lord Sutherland of Houndwood.
In the animal welfare category environment minister Ben Bradshaw will compete against his Tory shadow Bill Wiggin as well as Conservative MPs Roger Gale and Ann Widdecombe.
The children and youth champion will be chosen from Lib Dem Lord Carlile of Berriew, crossbencher Baroness Howarth, charities minister Ed Miliband, Labour backbencher Dan Norris and Tory rising star Ed Vaizey.
The culture and heritage award will go to either new Conservative MP Greg Clark, Tory grandee Sir Patrick Cormack, Labour's Lord Faulkner of Worcester or Lib Dem Lord Redesdale.
The disability champion will be contested by Treasury minister Ed Balls, Lib Dem work and pensions spokesman Danny Alexander, Tory disabilities spokesman Jeremy Hunt and Conservative backbencher Angela Browning.
In the education and sport category, select committee chairman Barry Sheerman is competing with Conservative Richard Benyon, Tory vice chairman Grant Shapps and crossbench peer Lord Ouseley.
And the health champion will be one of select committee chairman Kevin Barron, Tory backbencher John Bercow, Labour MP Howard Stoate and Conservative peer Lord Swinfen.
Finally, the most effective campaigning charity category will be contested by Citizens Advice, Age Concern, the RSPCA and the NSPCC, while the winner of the outstanding achievement award will be announced at the presentation ceremony on November 29.
ePolitix.com's Paul Adeleke said: "There is often much cynicism aimed at parliamentarians and the work that they do - so it is great to see such a positive aspect of their contribution acknowledged by so many good causes."
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