It Had To Be Done

The Spectator is seeking nominations for their parliamentarian of the year awards. Some geezer called Philip Davies deserved a shout, I thought.

When first elected to the House of Commons in 2005, Philip Davies captured the former Labour seat of Shipley by a margin of just 422 votes. Following his first term, his majority was transformed into just under 10,000 in May 2010. It’s not hard to understand why.

In an era where the electorate has become accustomed to politicians promoting policies based on the consensus of cliquey lobbyists, quangoes, and unelected supranational organizations, Davies has consistently reflected the concerns of the people parliamentarians regularly forget – that is, the public they are elected to serve.

In the last year he has carried on in the same vein. Despite a massive whipping campaign, Davies was one of 37 MPs to vote on cutting the UK’s contribution to the EU, thereby endorsing the opinion of a majority of the public instead of the insular view prevalent in Westminster.

In serving electors rather than adhering to party dogma, he spoke out against Conservative Sarah Wollaston’s ten minute rule motion on banning alcohol advertising, as well as tackling Labour’s Alex Cunningham on the issue of smoking in private cars.

Despite the predictable controversy, in June he was also not afraid to voice concerns raised over the minimum wage and its potential for denying employment to the disabled.

In the current environment of general derision and mistrust of politicians, Davies is a parliamentarian who understands his electorate, is trusted by them, and has been outstanding in the last twelve months speaking out on their behalf.

Little or no chance of his being short-listed, of course - acting as a champion of ordinary people isn't a valued quality these days, sadly - but you've got to be in it to win it, as they say.

It would be nice if someone who isn't slate grey righteous was on the ballot though, don't you think? So, do go and chip in with your own choice more nominations for our Phil.

I can hear the tutting of the Speccie judging panel already.