Tag Archives: party awards 2026

Do you know someone within the party who should be recognised for what they do?

Every year at Conference the President presents awards to some very special people within the party. Now is the right time to be nominating people you know for one of the awards. The nominations deadline is 12th August.

The awards that will be given at this year’s Autumn Conference are:

The President’s Award:  open to any Party Member elected to public office and who has demonstrated excellence and commitment, either in that role or both in that role and other roles for the party.

The Harriet Smith Liberal Democrat Distinguished Service Award: this award is named for Harriet Smith, who campaigned and worked tirelessly for the Party, notably alongside Paddy Ashdown, with the Federal Conference Committee, and in the Bath party. A beloved figure, she is also missed from the Conference revue and by the team at the Liberator Magazine. It is open to any Party Member never elected to public office.

The Belinda Eyre-Brook Award: this award is named for legendary campaigner Belinda Eyre-Brook, whose achievements with the Party include being Ed Davey’s agent in 1997, overturning 15,000 Tory Majority, and establishing one of the party’s longest-serving MPs.  It is given to recognise and celebrate the efforts of people working for our elected representatives in their local areas – from local party employees to political assistants to council groups, to people working in MPs’ constituency offices.

The Dadabhai Naoroji Award: this award is named for the ‘Grand Old Man of India’, Liberal MP, and joint founder of the Indian National Congress, Dadabhai Naoroji. His work highlighting the reality of British rule over India and campaign for justice is an example to us all and his place in history, as the first non-white and first Indian Parliamentarian, is assured. It is presented annually to the local Party that has done most to promote ethnic minority participants to elected office as Councillors, Assembly Members or Members of Parliament.

The Penhaligon Award: this award is named for former MP David Penhaligon, a cherished former stalwart of the Cornish Party who took the seat of Truro in 1974. David was a prominent figure in the party and the nation and will always be remembered for his succinct advice to local campaigners: “‘stick it on a piece of paper and stuff it through a letterbox’. It can be presented to the local party anywhere in the world which demonstrates the most impressive increase in membership and exemplary activities to deliver and involve members and supporters.

The Patsy Calton Award: one of our more recent awards, the Patsy Calton is named for the former MP for Cheadle and is presented (and judged) by Lib Dem Women. Patsy was a hugely respected Parliamentarian and her legacy also lives on through her eponymous award given by Breakthrough Breast Cancer. It is awarded to exceptional women ranging from Councillors, to members, to Parliamentarians.

The Party website has more details about each of these awards, and instructions on how to nominate someone.