Swindon, 30 July 2001. - Zurich Financial Services has today announced that it has taken over the sponsorship of the Spectator's 2001 Parliamentarian of the Year Awards.
Now in their 18th year, the Zurich/Spectator Parliamentarian of the Year Awards - being held on 8 November 2001 at the Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park Hotel - have firmly established a platform to recognise excellence of parliamentarian performance.
Sandy Leitch, Chief Executive of Zurich Financial Services in the UK said: "These awards salute talent and achievement in both Houses. The Zurich/Spectator Parliamentarian of the Year Awards coupled with Zurich's sponsorship of the Scottish Politician of the Year Award, are in the vanguard of establishing standards of professionalism across all areas of the political arena."
Boris Johnson, Editor of The Spectator said: "The Zurich/Spectator Parliamentarian of the Year Awards have become an established fixture in the Westminster calendar. They are one of the very few occasions in which journalists pay tribute to public servants who are - at least from time to time - selfless, uncorrupt and acting with the highest motives."
In selecting the award winners the judging panel of senior media figures, led by Spectator editor Boris Johnson, are looking for outstanding and distinguished service in each category plus an exceptional candidate for the prestigious and distinguished Parliamentarian of the Year Award. Previous winners have included The Rt Hon Tony Benn MP; The Rt Hon. Sir Edward Heath, KG, MBE, MP; and The Rt Hon. John Major CH, MP.
End
For further information please contact:
Debi Isaac, Media Relations Manager
Tel:01793 503810
Note to editors
The judges - led by Spectator editor Boris Johnson - include:
- Spectator Political Editor Peter Oborne,
- the Guardian's Political Editor Michael White and Political Sketch Simon Hoggart
- the Telegraph's Political Editor George Jones and Political Sketch Frank Johnson
- the Sun's Political Editor Trevor Kavanagh
- the Independent's Political Editor Alan Watkins
- the Times' columnist Matthew Parris
- the BBC's Political Editor Andrew Marr and
- Channel 4's Political Editor Elinor Goodman.
Zurich Financial Services (UKISA) is part of the Zurich Financial Services Group and comprises the Group's operations in the UK, Ireland and South Africa.
The Zurich Financial Services Group is a global leader in the financial services industry, providing its customers with solutions in the area of financial protection and asset accumulation. The Group concentrates its activities in five business segments: non-life and life insurance, reinsurance, Farmers Management Services, and asset management. Headquartered in Zurich, Switzerland, the Group's worldwide presence builds on strong positions in its three key markets - the United States, the United Kingdom and Switzerland. It has offices in more than 60 countries reaching 35 million customers and employing about 70,000 people. Based on consolidated figures for 2000, the Group achieved gross premiums of USD 50 billion. This amount includes insurance deposits as well as premiums from the Farmers P&C Group. The net income amounted to USD 2.33 billion. On December 31, 2000, the Group had USD 440 billion of assets under management of which USD 259 billion represent funds managed for third-party institutional and retail customers.
