Local MP wins Labour People's Choice Award
Date published: 21 April 2020
Oldham East and Saddleworth MP Debbie Abrahams
Debbie Abrahams, MP for Oldham East and Saddleworth has come away with a prestigious award at the MP of the Year Awards 2019.
She won the coveted title of Labour People's Choice Award.
Accepting the award, Debbie Abrahams, MP for Oldham East and Saddleworth, said: “It’s an absolute honour to have won the Patchwork Foundation’s Labour People’s Choice MP of the Year 2019 award.
“I’m so proud and so grateful to everybody who took part and voted for me.
“Politics, over recent years, has been incredibly turbulent and, during times like these, it is often the most vulnerable in our society who are forgotten. That’s why I put so much effort into trying to change attitudes to the way in which we treat disabled people, especially in terms of how our social security system can mistreat them.
“It is a national scandal that so many people have died after being found fit for work, or after failing a personal independence assessment, and I will continue to push for a full, independent, inquiry.
“In 2020, all being well, I hope to run my seventh annual summer school for young people to learn about politics which for me is about working for their community. I wish I’d started in politics earlier in life so I hope my summer school gives local young people an insight into politics as public service and that by working together we can make society a better place for all of us.”
She also posted her thanks for the win on Twitter as no official celebration could be held this year due to the coronavirus pandemic.
A real honour! Thanks for voting for me! #MPoftheYearAwards 2019 https://t.co/s5w8b1ttDm
— Debbie Abrahams MP (@Debbie_abrahams) April 21, 2020
The Patchwork Foundation honours MP’s on an annual basis recognising those who have worked hard to support the most disadvantaged communities through their policy making or campaigns they have supported. MPs are chosen by the public and an independent panel of judges in a variety of categories.
In light of Covid-19 restrictions the Awards, usually a Parliamentary reception, have for the first time been announced on Twitter with award winners sharing acceptance speeches via video.
Among the award winners and voted The Conservative and Unionist Party MP of the Year for her efforts resettling EU Citizens in the UK Caroline Nokes MP marked the occasion saying, “These are strange times to be living in, but it is perhaps even more important now than ever, that we stand up for those who are marginalised, and use our voice to make sure theirs is heard.”
Other notable judges’ winners this year included the Labour Party MP of the year Stella Creasy MP for her work on the gender pay gap, maternity leave for MPs and equal access to abortion in the UK; Newcomer Conservative MP Vicky Ford MP and her work trying to eradicate cyber flashing; Newcomer Labour MP Lloyd Russel Moyle MP for his brave speech to Parliament about being HIV positive and work he has done locally to prevent privatisation of schools; Other Parties MP of the year award went this year to Tommy Sheppard MP recognising his work helping people with drug addiction; and Wera Hobhouse MP who won other party newcomer MP of year award for her headline making up-skirting law.
People’s choice winners for 2019 included overall people’s choice winner of the year Justin Madders MP; Overall newcomer of the year Ben Lake MP; Labour People’s choice Debbie Abrahams MP, Conservative People’s choice Rt Hon Jacob Rees-Mogg MP and other parties people’s choice Caroline Lucas MP.
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