Tony Blair's final effort to win support for the war in Iraq has been named as the speech of the year in The House Magazine parliamentary awards.

The prime minister won round wavering MPs with his impassioned plea for backing in March and was rewarded again in Westminster on Wednesday in the poll of parliamentarians.

Blair beat off competition from former leader of the House Robin Cook for his dramatic resignation speech and former Conservative leader William Hague who dazzled MPs with his oratorical skills in the Lords reform debate.

Arts minister Estelle Morris was named as minister of the year, having earned the respect of her colleagues for her dignified resignation as education secretary last year.

Despite claiming then she was "not up to the job" the Birmingham MP was a popular choice when brought back into government in the recent reshuffle.

Oliver Letwin won plaudits for his considered style and forensic analysis of David Blunkett's Home Office.

The shadow home secretary was honoured as best opposition politician.

Left winger Ann Clwyd won the title of "backbencher of the year", having highlighted human rights abuses in Iraq over many years.

"Best committee" was given to Edward Leigh's prolific public accounts committee while another Tory, shadow education minister Baroness Blatch, was named peer of the year.

Veteran political editor Michael White of the Guardian picked up the honour of best print journalist.