Ashley: Lifetime achievement

A wide range of parliamentarians from across the political spectrum have been shortlisted for unique awards highlighting the work they do to raise awareness of charitable causes.

The ePolitix.com Charity Champion Awards recognise the "hard work and time" MPs and peers have devoted to promoting charitable campaigns in parliament

There will also be a special lifetime achievement award for the veteran disability rights campaigner Lord Ashley of Stoke.

During the summer, charities nominated parliamentarians from both the House of Commons and the House of Lords.

Charities were asked to nominate parliamentarians who had championed charitable categories including animal welfare and disability.

Next month parliamentarians and their staff will be invited to vote online for the charity champion in each category.

The winners of this unique e-election will be announced in early December.

Commenting on the awards, lottery commissioner and member of the charity champions steering committee Timothy Hornsby said: "A healthy society needs charities who can campaign, provide services for their beneficiaries, and bring abuses to public notice.

"In some cases laws need changing or new ones introduced. The extent to which MPs and members of the Lords are involved in supporting and promoting the good work charities do has not been widely recognised. These awards go a long way to remedying that."

Robin Hutchinson, the Director of Communications and Campaigns for the Guide Dogs for the Blind Association, added: "From a voluntary organisation's perspective this is an excellent opportunity for organisations such as Guide Dogs to pay tribute to parliamentarians who have done so much to make our views heard in Westminster, in Whitehall and in the constituencies."

Norman Baker MP

Tony Banks MP

John Greenway MP

Bill Tynan MP

Rt Hon Gordon Brown MP

Lord Laming

Earl Listowel

Gareth Thomas MP

Martin Caton MP

Tom Clarke MP

Dr Stephen Ladyman MP

Neil Gerrard

Dr Ian Gibson MP

Jane Griffiths MP

Rt Hon Peter Hain MP

Dr Howard Stoate MP

Tony Baldry MP

Neil Gerrard MP

Oona King MP

Joan Ruddock MP

Paul Burstow MP

Baroness Greengross MP

David Heathcoat-Amory MP

Jacqui Smith MP