Mr Speaker, Rt Hon John Bercow MP announced the Patchwork Foundation MPs of the Year 2014 at Speakers House on 5th November 2014, for those MPs who have represented and work well with underrepresented, deprived and minority communities across the country.
Announcing the winners from the State Rooms, in the Speaker’s House, The Rt Hon John Bercow MP said: “I would like to give my best wishes to the Patchwork Foundation and congratulate them for their work over the last 12 months.”
The Newcomer MP of the Year 2014 Zac Goldsmith MP, said: “I am truly honoured to have been awarded this prestigious award, not least because the Patchwork Foundation is such an extraordinary organisation. Its efforts to encourage people from all backgrounds to become more actively engaged in politics are exemplary.”
Accepting the award, Zac added; “The honour is magnified by the fact that the previous winner was Green MP Caroline Lucas, who is in many respects a model MP.”
Introducing the award, the Speaker, John Bercow MP, described Zac as ‘the real deal’, and complemented him on his independent minded approach.
Rt Hon David Cameron MP, The Prime Minister said: “I’m particularly happy to see so many Conservative Members of Parliament nominated for these awards. I am proud to support the ground-breaking work of the Patchwork Foundation. The organisation has helped thousands of young people from under-represented communities engage in the political process. From holding community engagement events attended by thousands of people, to small master classes with senior political figures, the Foundation is leading the way in making politics more accessible to all, regardless of where you live, where you come from, your age, ethnicity or background.”
Simon Woolley, OBV Founder and Patchwork National Advisory Board Member said: “The MP of the Year Awards not only highlights the work MPs are doing to better understand their diverse communities, it also applauds those MP’s who are encouraging greater civic and political engagement. With many young people, particularly from BME communities feeling a huge disconnect from our elected representatives, the MP of the year awards should be a reminder to all MP’s that we expect them to give voice to those unheard, and in doing so the whole of society benefits.”
Jonathan Holt KPMG Partner said: ““We are delighted to sponsor these awards and help Patchwork encouraging under represented communities connect with the political process. The work done by their volunteers and the time they commit will hopefully inspire young people in all communities to fulfil their true potential. How organisations work with, and within, their local communities is a critical part of inspiring young people. That’s why KPMG pioneered a School Leaver Programme, a Business Support Academy and why, only last month KPMG hosted a series of events promoting the importance of inclusion in the workplace. We committed ourselves to ambitions which are quantifiable and against we can be judged – and these targets span across the four areas of gender, ethnicity, disability and sexual orientation. The fact is, everyone has the right to feel safe from discrimination and bring their whole self to work so that they can fulfil their own potential.”
Notes to Editor:
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Picture” Left to Right – Jonathan Holt (KPMG Partner, Sponsor), Rt Hon John Bercow MP (Mr Speaker), Zac Goldsmith MP (Newcomer MP of the Year 2014) & Martyn Lewis CBE (Patchwork Foundation, Patron and Compere).
Patrons: Baroness Tanni Grey-Thompson DBE | Martyn Lewis CBE | John O’Brien
National Advisory Board: Shabir Randeree CBE (Chair, Mosaic Associates) | Simon Woolley (Founder, Operation Black Vote) | Andrea Cooper (Director, UpRising) | Daniella Shaw-Gabay (Policy and Public Affairs Manager, Three Faiths Forum) | Jonathan Freeman (National Director, HRH Prince of Wales’ Mosaic) | Sophie Stephens (Senior Organiser, Citizens UK)
Through the MP of the Year Awards, The Patchwork Foundation highlights and acknowledges those MPs – nominated by individuals and grassroots community organisations, and subsequently picked by an independent panel of judges – that have excelled in representing such communities.
There have been over 90 MPs nominated from across the country including MPs from different faith groups and ethnic backgrounds. The MPs are judged by 5 key criteria:
1. Deprived communities (including white working class communities)
2. Faith communities
3. Ethnic communities
4. Sexual Orientation communities
5. Other communities traditionally excluded by the political process
The Patchwork Foundation launched the MP of the Year Awards 2014 in association with Mosaic Associates, the Three Faiths Forum, UpRising and National Union of Students earlier this year, hosted by the Deputy Prime Minister at Admiralty House.
Judges: Shabir Randeree CBE (Chairman, HRH Prince of Wales’ Mosaic), Simon Woolley (Founder, Operation Black Vote), Andrea Cooper (Director, UpRising), Daniella Shaw-Gabay (Policy and Public Affairs Manager, Three Faiths Forum), Jonathan Freeman (National Director, HRH Prince of Wales’ Mosaic), Toni Pearce (President, National Union of Students) and Sophie Stephens (Senior Organiser, Citizens UK).
Category: NewComer MP of the Year
Winner: Zac Goldsmith MP
Nominations: Alok Sharma MP, Anas Sarwar MP, Angie Bray MP, Chuka Umunna MP, Jon Ashworth MP, Jonathan Reynolds MP, Lilian Greenwood MP, Rushanara Ali MP, Stella Creasy MP, Steve Reed MP, Zac Goldsmith MP, Helen Grant MP, Sam Gyimah MP, Matthew Offord MP, Sajid Javid MP, Kwasi Kwarteng MP, Claire Perry MP, Rory Stewart MP, Steve Brine MP, Chi Onwurah MP, Gloria de Piero MP, Luciana Berger MP, Lucy Powell MP, Shabana Mahmood MP, Tristam Hunt MP, Yasmin Qureshi MP, Lisa Nandy MP & Seema Malhotra MP
-PM Message of Support: LINK
-Promotional Video 2014: LINK
-Launch of MP of the Year 2014: LINK
-Who won MP of the Year 2013: LINK /
-Promo MP of Year Ceremony 2013: LINK