Charlotte Leslie is "Backbencher of the Year"

Charlotte Leslie, MP for Bristol North West has been named "Backlbencher of the Year" in the annual Spectator Magazine "Parliamentarian of the Year Awards"

She was praised for her work over scandals at the Mid-Staffs Hospital and for her efforts to expose "cover-ups" over wrong-doings.

In particular she has called for the resignation of NHS chief executive Sir David Nicholson who, she has said, presided over a regime of cover-ups and fear.

The Spectator citation read: "Charlotte Leslie took on the NHS establishment over the Francis Report when even the government was afraid to.

"She used FOI requests and every parliamentary device at her disposal to claim her scalp and showed the Tory party how its done."

Ms Leslie said: "I am humbled to receive this award and I am glad that this vital scrutiny of the NHS has been recognised.

"But the most important things is that the work goes on and I will continue to seek to expose wrongdoing in our NHS which is, in the vast majority of cases, magnificent but which has, over the years, sheltered those who have let it down and punished those who tried to do something about it."