Churchill Awards 2019 - help us choose a winner

I just listened to her last speech to the H of Lords JessK. So moving. It would be nice if the rules could be bent enough to give it to her.

If it could be awarded posthumously I would vote for Tessa Jowell. She passed away in May 2018 and worked right up until the end of her life.

Pity is has to be for the last 12 months, Margaret Beckett has been an MP for nearly 40 years , been deputy leader, leader and first female foreign secretary. She is now tipped for the choice of caretaker PM

I just thought there is always Anne Widdiecome (Sorry I know not at all appropriate) She is old enough!

I think it should be postponed until a politician shows them self to be worthy of it. I don't think anyone does at present.

There don't seem to be that many over 65s to choose from this year.

Oh well TM is 62 and Sandi Toksvig is 61-back to the drawing board!!!

trisher it’s a political figure that is needed, so can’t be too political.
However, on thinking about it, T May could be under 65, I don’t know.

A political figure, not with a small p or a capital P

Lady Hale and the other 10 were carrying out the law , nothing political

Sorry too political. If Lady Hale is political with a small 'p' TM is Political witha capital 'P' Also one of the worst Home secretaries we ever had and responsible for the Windrush fiasco!

Theresa May

Lemongrove I agree with you - Theresa May took a lot of flack over the last year and it is now evident that even our new PM can't better the deal she brought back.

Like to nominate Sandi Toksvig for having the confidence to take new career steps in her late 50s, get into politics and still remain someone with a sense of humour who cares about people.
But I like Lady Hale as well!

I nominate Theresa May for her dedicated work to bring an
Agreement to the HOC that most of the MP’s could vote for.
They didn’t of course, but I feel she worked tirelessly to try and unite both Leavers and Remainers in Parliament, and in the country in general.It was a thankless task, but she never gave up and remained polite at all times, which in itself required backbone.

Therefore not involved in politics, surely?

Lady Hale was one of eleven judges wasn’t she ?

Yes, an interesting point. Judges have to be apolitical. I have a close friend who was a judge, I know how her sympathies lie on social issues, but not what her political beliefs are.

She was not involved in criminal cases, but, as she always made clear, her job was limited to considering how the law applied to those who she dealt with, regardless of whether she had sympathy for their circumstances or not.

I think Lady Hale could be said to be involved in politics with a small 'p'.

The decision of the Supreme Court is above party politics but it's surely a momentous political occasion.

Currently the political landscape is so polarised that it would be impossible for me to choose someone readily identified with party politics.

Lady Hale

Yeah, I just googled her. Although she's a member of the House of Lords but very senior judges are, like Bishops are which isn't the same as being a politician.

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brenda_Hale,_Baroness_Hale_of_Richmond

No. She was a law lecturer working part time as a barrister when she was younger. She's always been in law. She's hugely clever. I think I'm right in saying she got a Starred First at university.

Is Lady Hale involved in politics ?

Lady Hale

I think Riverwalk is right - Lady Hale is a no brainer this year, unless I’ve missed anyone really outstanding.