CHRIS HUHNE SHORTLISTED FOR TOP AWARD

4.56.33pm UTC (GMT +0000) Tue 9th Jan 2007

Eastleigh MP Chris Huhne has been shortlisted for the Opposition Politician of the Year award in the 2007 Channel 4 Political awards.

This is the top award exclusively for Opposition politicians at the network's annual political prize-giving. Last year it was won by Conservative MP Dominic Grieve, the shadow attorney general.

Chris has been nominated alongside Richard Bacon, David Cameron and Angus MacNeil.

The awards dinner is on Wednesday 7th February and MPs will soon receive their ballot papers for a secret ballot of all MPs conducted by the Electoral Reform Society.

Chris Huhne said: "It is an honour to be nominated for the Channel 4 Opposition Politician's award in the company of such illustrious Members of Parliament as Richard, David and Angus. I'm looking forward to the evening".

But Chris said that the best award he could have was the thanks of any Eastleigh resident whom he had managed to help with some problem.

"It's great to be recognised at Westminster and nationally, but it would be little comfort if I didn't think I was representing the people of Eastleigh. National clout, though, does occasionally help in tackling local problems."