Rochester MP Mark Reckless named as 'pin-up' of the year

MP Mark Reckless has won the TaxPayers' Alliance Pin-Up of the Year contest. 

The Conservative MP for Rochester and Strood won the contest after gaining 36.3 per cent of votes. 

The 42-year-old was nominated by the campaign group for "successfully tabling the amendment to the parliamentary motion which saw the House of Commons demand a cut in the European Union Budget".

Votes were cast in the days leading up to Christmas Eve. 

Nadine Dorries, MP for Mid-Bedfordshire and a contestant on this year's 'I'm A Celebrity, Get Me Out Of Here!', was the runner up in the contest's 'pinhead' of the year category. Energy Secretary Ed Davey MP won the title with 42 per cent of votes.  

Jonathan Isaby, political director of campaign group The TaxPayers' Alliance, said: "The TaxPayers' Alliance has always believed that as well as making examples of those who have shown a disregard for public money, it is important to recognise those who have sought to do the right thing by taxpayers."

"Both our winners and the runners-up for these two awards all either acted in the best interests of taxpayers or showed a disregard for taxpayers' cash over the last twelve months. 

"All those in power can rest assured that over the coming year we at the TaxPayers' Alliance will continue to assess their words and deeds and make sure that those deemed to be Pin-Ups or Pinheads are brought to the attention of the wider public."