Don Foster, the MP for Bath, has been honoured at the Patchwork Foundation MPs of the Year 2014 Awards, which took place on Wednesday.
The ceremony, which took place at Speakers House, celebrates those MPs who have represented and work well with underrepresented, deprived and minority communities across the country.
The Bath MP was awarded Runner Up Liberal Democrat MP of the Year at the ceremony.
Commenting on his award, he said: “I am obviously delighted to have been awarded this.
“The job of an MP is to represent all their constituents, no matter what their background, and to help them as much as possible. I, like all MPs, try and do this to the best of my ability.”
The eventual winner of the Liberal Democrat MP of the Year went to Lib Dem Party President, Tim Farron MP, who was recently in Bath as he was Guest Speaker at the Bath and North East Somerset Liberal Democrats’ Annual Dinner.
Announcing the winners from the State Rooms, in the Speaker’s House, Mr Speaker, 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.”
Rt Hon Nick Clegg MP, Leader of the Liberal Democrats said: “Both Don and Tim are fantastic MPs and either would have been a worthy winner. I am proud to support the ground breaking work of the Patchwork Foundation.
“They have helped thousands of young people from under represented communities from across the country to engage in the political process.”
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.”
