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IWA Announces Parliamentarians Of The Year – Bob Laxton MP And Michael Fabricant MP

The Inland Waterways Association (IWA)
has exceptionally made its 2010 inland waterways ‘Parliamentarian of the Year’ award jointly to both Bob Laxton MP and Michael Fabricant MP

The award was made at an exclusive dinner at the House of Commons yesterday evening (Tuesday 02 February), held by IWA. It was attended by Members of Parliament from all the major parties who have shown a keen interest in the waterways, and being the last annual dinner before the General Election in 2010, gave IWA the opportunity to thank MPs, some of whom are standing down, for their efforts over this Parliament.

In presenting the awards, Clive Henderson, IWA national chairman, said:

“This year will see the end of the current Parliament so we looked really hard at a number of exceptional candidates for our Parliamentarian of the Year award.
In the end we just couldn’t split the difference between the two leading candidates so they both get the award.

As the Member for Lichfield Michael Fabricant has been a long standing supporter of IWA and canals in general for many years. He is keenly committed to the re-opening if the Lichfield and Hatherton Canals, supporting the local trust; has held well supported Adjournment Debates on waterways funding issues; and believes in a cross party consensus on supporting our waterways.

The Member for Derby North, Bob Laxton, has been chairman of the All-Party Parliamentary Waterways Group since 2005; is President of the Derby and Sandiacre Canal Trust; is a regular contributor at Adjournment Debates on waterways issues; and has tabled more Early Day Motions on the waterways than any other MP.”

The announcement of the joint award met with widespread approval and congratulations from all those present.

IWA is organised into 35 local branches covering geographical areas of the country, through which volunteers coordinate activities as diverse as policing planning applications through the waterway corridor, organising festivals and events to raise public awareness, providing engineering expertise, raising money for restoration schemes, and providing education on the value and benefits of their local waterways.