COVENTRY South MP Zarah Sultana has been named ‘2021 Young People’s MP of the Year’ from diversity and inclusion charity Patchwork Foundation.
Ms Sultana took the title at the prestigious MP of the Year Awards, hosted and presented by Patchwork Patron, Mr Speaker, Rt Hon Sir Lindsay Hoyle MP, in Speaker’s House earlier tonight.
The awards celebrate the MPs who have actively worked with underrepresented and disadvantaged communities across the UK over the previous 12 months.
The MPs are nominated by the public with winners being selected by an independent panel of judges.
Ms Sultana MP was voted as the MP they believed had gone above and beyond to champion young people and underrepresented communities.
She said: “I feel a special responsibility to champion the interests of underrepresented groups in Parliament – from young people and working class communities, to Muslims and ethnic minorities – so I am incredibly proud to win this award.
“Politicians too often neglect these groups, instead stoking division and hate while taking donations from the super-rich.
“I am determined to do things differently, using my platform as a Member of Parliament to challenge this rigged system.”
Labour Leader Sir Keir Starmer MP congratulated all the winners and nominees and said: “Your work to empower young people from diverse and underrepresented backgrounds to engage with politics is crucial.
“Patchwork Foundation is creating a space to make politics more accessible, and I credit you for the exemplary impact you are having.”
Rt Hon Sir Lindsay Hoyle MP, Speaker of the House of Commons, said: “It is fantastic to see the 9th annual MP of the Year Awards return to Speaker’s House, to celebrate the hard work of MPs throughout 2021 – to support, champion, and engage under-represented communities.
“These awards are a great way to celebrate and shout about the work so many of our MPs do on behalf of their constituents across the country.”
Imran Sanaullah MBE, CEO, Patchwork Foundation, said: “It’s been a pleasure to be back in Speaker’s House for the first in-person MP of the Year Awards since 2018.
“After such a challenging few years, celebrating all the amazing work MPs have been doing across the country to champion, engage, and represent underrepresented communities has been enormously uplifting.
“It also demonstrates how important this work is, as we seek to address the divisions in our society and lack of trust in our politics.
“All of us at the Patchwork Foundation would like to congratulate and thank the winning MPs for their service and for helping us to create a democracy that is as representative and inclusive as possible.”
