OLDHAM East and Saddleworth MP Debbie Abrahams has won a coveted award from an organisation which promotes participation by disadvantaged and minority communities in democracy in the UK.

The Patchwork Foundation has announced Ms Abrahams as the winner of the Labour People's Choice for MP of the Year.

It honours MPs on an annual basis recognising those who have worked hard to support the communities through their policy making or campaigns they have supported. MPs are chosen by the public and an independent panel of judges in a variety of categories.

Ms Abrahams said“It’s an absolute honour to have won the Patchwork Foundation’s Labour People’s Choice MP of the Year 2019 award.

“I’m so proud and so grateful to everybody who took part and voted for me.

“Politics, over recent years, has been incredibly turbulent and, during times like these, it is often the most vulnerable in our society who are forgotten. That’s why I put so much effort into trying to change attitudes to the way in which we treat disabled people, especially in terms of how our social security system can mistreat them.

“It is a national scandal that so many people have died after being found fit for work, or after failing a personal independence assessment, and I will continue to push for a full, independent, inquiry.

“In 2020, all being well, I hope to run my seventh annual summer school for young people to learn about politics which for me is about working for their community. I wish I’d started in politics earlier in life so I hope my summer school gives local young people an insight into politics as public service and that by working together we can make society a better place for all of us.”