Caroline Lucas named 'MP of the Year'

The Leader of the Green Party and MP for Brighton Pavilion, Caroline Lucas, has been named 'MP of the Year' in the Scottish Widows & Dods Women in Public Life Awards - just 16 months after she was elected as the first Green to enter the UK Parliament.

The title was awarded to the Brighton Pavilion MP for proving to be 'the most effective woman in the House of Commons who has shown outstanding achievement during the parliamentary year'.

Since being elected in the 2010 general election, the MP has also been named 'Best All Rounder' in the Total Politics End of Year MP awards - and 'Newcomer of the Year' by the Spectator in its 2010 Parliamentarian of the Year awards. On receiving the accolade from Scottish Widows and Dods, Caroline said: "I am delighted that my work as a Member of Parliament has been recognised in this way. It is an incredible honour to serve the people of Brighton Pavilion and I will continue to strive to be the strong and principled voice which our city deserves.

"Until we see far more women represented at senior levels in politics and industry, playing a far greater role in decision making at the top, I think awards like these are an important way of highlighting and celebrating female achievement."

In Parliament, Caroline is a Co-Chair of the All Party Parliamentary Group on Fuel Poverty, and Vice Chair of the Public and Commercial Services, Sustainable Housing, Animal Welfare, and CND All Party Parliamentary Groups. She is also a member of the Parliament's Environmental Audit Committee, and sits on the Energy Bill Committee.

Caroline continues to be an active campaigner on a range of issues and is Vice President of Stop the War Coalition and the RSPCA, a CND National Council Member, a Director of the International Forum on Globalization; a Matron of the Women's Environmental Network; and a Patron of Martlet's hospice in East Sussex.