Parliamentary award for Paisley

The Rev Ian Paisley has become the first MP in the North to be voted Opposition Politician of the Year.

The Democratic Unionist Party leader received the coveted award during a ceremony in London last night and is the oldest politician to do so.

He saw off competitors including Scottish Nationalist Party leader Alex Salmond and said it was a privilege.

“I am very proud. It is a great honour and they were more than nice to me,” the 82-year-old veteran said.

The ceremony was organised as part of the House Magazine Parliamentary Awards.

He was presented with a solid brass portcullis at Gladstone’s Library in Whitehall.

Mr Paisley said his most memorable speech had been last month when he paid tribute to out-going British Prime Minister Tony Blair’s stewardship of the peace process, which prompted a power-sharing deal between the DUP and Sinn Féin on May 8 this year.

“I thought that I touched the House in saying goodbye to the Prime Minister,” he added. “I don’t know how many MPs came to say that they were touched by what I said to the Prime Minister.”

The honour was an annual accolade handed out by fellow MPs for positions including Government Backbencher, Opposition Backbencher, and Best Minister.

Mr Paisley, who is one of the longest-serving MPs, acknowledged the irony in receiving the opposition trophy amidst his high-profile career as the North's First Minister.

The award was presented by Sky’s Adam Boulton.