Video: PinkNews award for Parliamentary Speech of the Year
Here is the video for Parliamentary Speech of the Year at the inaugural PinkNews Awards hosted by the Speaker of the House of Commons on Wednesday.
The award was presented by House of Commons speaker, John Bercow. The winner was Tory MP Mike Freer, as voted by PinkNews readers, for his heartfelt and moving speech in support of equal marriage at February’s second reading of the Marriage (Same Sex Couples) Act.
Wednesday evening’s PinkNews Awards ceremony were held inside the State Rooms of Speaker’s House at the Palace of Westminster.
“To win such an award so early on in a parliamentary career is really quite something,” Mr Freer said, before joking: “So I suspect the best is now behind me.” He went on to say that his speech will probably be “my proudest moment”. He added: “My colleagues and I with your support changed history. And there’s very few parliamentarians that can say that. So thank you for all of your support.
“Thank you to my colleagues who were very generous in the debate. I think it was a very – apart from one or two – a very well-received and respectful debate. And, of course, to PinkNews for all of the support they gave the parliamentarians because at some points, it felt very lonely when we were supporting the bill. And the support we got from PinkNews and you was invaluable. So thank you very much for this award. I will really treasure it. Thank you.”
David Cameron congratulated Mr Freer, along with Conservative Peer Baroness Stowell who won Politician of the Year. The Prime Minister tweeted:
Congratulations @mikefreermp and @tinastowell for winning @pinknews awards for their magnificent work on equal marriage.
— David Cameron (@David_Cameron) October 23, 2013
The PinkNews Awards event was generously supported by:-
In association with:-
