Tony Benn and Sir Edward Heath were last night named joint Parliamentarian of the Year in the annual Spectator/Highland Park awards. The two MPs, with over 100 years of service between them, retire from the House of Commons at the next general election.

The judges of the awards hailed the pair as "two men who have done the most to uphold the traditions and dignity of the House of Commons". The chairman of the judges, Spectator editor Boris Johnson, said: "Tony Benn sacrificed a peerage in order to sit on the green benches and has warned ever since of the threats to parliamentary sovereignty from NATO, America, the European Union, the monarchy, the aristocracy and many other quarters, with the notable exception of the National Union of Mineworkers. His speeches still empty the tea-rooms, and we will be following his career with interest now that he is, as he puts it, retiring to take up politics."

Of Sir Edward, he said: "He has been a great Commons man in many senses: in that he was always there, in his Cornish-pasty shoes, below the gangway; in that he can fight a tough corner - in the interests of Iraq, or China or the European Union; but mainly because he can make a brilliant speech, without a note, in which he can charm as well as bruise."

The awards also included:

Minister to Watch - Education minister Estelle Morris (Lab, Birmingham Yardley), praised by the judges for her "love of her subject and her ferocity in the Commons ... and her refusal to wear horrid New Labour chiffon scarves."

Survivor of the Year - London Mayor Ken Livingstone (Ind, Brent East), for his "amazing ability to recover from the fatwahs of the Labour machine''.

Inquisitor of the Year - chairman of the Public Accounts Committee David Davis (Con, Haltemprice and Howden), of whom the judges said "no one has done more to embarrass the Government over the Dome, with the possible exception of Lord Falconer''.

Backbencher of the Year - Andrew Tyrie (Con, Chichester), described as "this year's most rugged individualist" and a man who, thanks to his understanding of tax and finance, "could be earning gigabucks in the private sector''.

Campaigner of the Year - Shared by Baroness Kennedy QC, who showed the Lords at its liberal best'' in her opposition to Government attempts to limit trial by jury, and Baroness Young, who "vindicated the Lords, though not exactly in a liberal sense'' in her campaign against the equal age of consent for homosexuals.

Peer of the Year - Lord Williams of Mostyn, who "some say is a future Leader of the Lords''.