Caroline has been named as the 'Overall MP of the Parliamentary Term 2010 - 2015'.
In a ceremony in the House of Commons award were presented to those MPs who have represented and work well with underrepresented, deprived and minority communities across the country.
Caroline was named the overall winner for the last Parliament.
Caroline said:
“It’s a huge honour to receive this Patchwork Foundation Award. There is still plenty of work to do in tackling the chronic underrepresentation of deprived communities in politics. Our democracy and our politics are richer when a representative cross-section of society is reflected in the institutions of Government. As the MP for Brighton Pavilion I am committed to continue helping people from all backgrounds to be part of the political process.”
Natalie Bennett, Green Party Leader, said:
“Caroline's award is richly deserved. Everyone in the Green Party is constantly inspired by Caroline’s outstanding work in the House of Commons to challenge the status quo and deliver real change for the common good. This prestigious award recognises what all Greens know - that Caroline has done a huge amount of work for deprived, minority and under represented communities. Caroline has been a tireless defender of the most vulnerable and consistently provided real opposition to the government’s damaging and ideologically-driven austerity agenda. Caroline’s outstanding track record in Westminster has not gone unnoticed by her Brighton Pavilion constituents, who returned her with a significantly increased majority in the May 2015 General Election.”
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 60 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 |
Judges: Shabir Randeree CBE (Chairman, HRH Prince of Wales’ Mosaic) | Simon Woolley (Founder, Operation Black Vote) | Andrea Cooper | Alice Memminger (Director, UpRising) | Yameen Akhtar (Three Faiths Forum) | Sophie Stephens (Citizens UK) | Jonathan Freeman (National Director, HRH Prince of Wales’ Mosaic)
ENDS
Contact: Patchwork Foundation on info@patchworkfoundation.org.uk (photos available from them on request)
or Matthew Butcher, Caroline Lucas' Press Officer, on 07885 459 904
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