In 2024, no incumbent has been safe. Whether it was the Democrats in America or the Tories in Britain, there has been plenty of drama in every corner of the globe. Here in Westminster, Keir Starmer swept to power – only to discover that governing well is quite a bit harder than some seemed to believe. Rishi Sunak meanwhile has left the political stage, to be replaced by Kemi Badenoch after a mammoth four-month contest.
So in a year of shocks, the only safe seat could be found tonight at The Spectator’s Parliamentarian Awards. The great and the not-so-good of British politics crammed themselves into the opulent splendour of the Old War Office in Whitehall to toast, commiserate and celebrate the memories of this year.
Politicians of every stripe were in attendance this evening, with Wes Streeting and Torcuil Crichton among those present from Sir Keir’s Labour lot. Mr S also spotted the arrivals of James Cleverly, Robert Jenrick and the SNP’s Westminster leader Stephen Flynn, while Reform’s Nigel Farage cut a striking figure in the crowd.
Guest of honour Wes Streeting commenced proceedings with a rather fiery speech:


























A full list of the winners can be found below:
Politician of the Year: Angela Rayner
Inquisitor of the Year: Stephen Flynn
Campaigner of the Year: Pat McFadden
Disruptor of the Year: Ed Davey
Peer of the Year: Tina Stowell
Politician to Watch: Robert Jenrick
Resignation of the Year: Rosie Duffield
YouTube Political Moment of the Year: Craig Mackinlay
Speech of the Year: James Cleverly
Rising star of the Year: Josh Simons
Newcomer of the Year: Nigel Farage
Leader of the Year: Kemi Badenoch
Parliamentarian of the Year: James Arbuthnot