Marris's persistence is rewarded

Wolverhampton South West MP Rob Marris has been named Backbencher of the Year in awards voted on by parliamentarians of all parties.

The Labour MP was presented with the award, which is sponsored by the Commons journal The House Magazine, at a ceremony in London last night.

Other winners included the Dalai Lama – International Statesman of the Year; Tony Blair – Speech of the Year for his final performance at Prime Minister's Questions; Ken Clarke – Special Parliamentary Award; and former Birmingham MP Lord (Jeff) Rooker – Minister of the Year in the House of Lords.

Mr Marris wins his "backbencher" award despite being a junior member of the Government as parliamentary aide to Northern Ireland Secretary Shaun Woodward. He was shortlisted for his "rigorous and independent scrutiny of all front benches", and every government minister, shadow minister and Liberal Democrat spokesman knows that they cannot expect an easy ride from him.

The Wolverhampton MP said today: "I am humbled and honoured to have been voted by other MPs as Backbencher of the Year 2008.

"I believe the House of Commons remains a vital area of public life in our country to debate and test ideas and politics."

Mr Marris added: "Some people have expressed concerns that I spend too much time in Wolverhampton and not enough in Parliament. I hope that this reassures them that I do both."

In fact, it is widely acknowledged at Westminster that the former lawyer spends more time in the Commons chamber and attending committee meetings than most other MPs.

He spent six successive years as a member of the standing committee which goes into the detail of the Finance Bill. Most MPs think two years is one too many.

Mr Marris has also been very active in pressing for adaptation to the impact of climate change – an aspect of the debate which was initially absent from the Government's Climate Change Bill, but which now occupies a quarter of it.

He spent hour after hour this year attending and intervening in the 13-day debate on the Lisbon Treaty while most of his colleagues preferred to escape the detail of the Treaty Bill.