Party Awards Autumn 2026
Recognise a Liberal Democrat Who's Made a Difference
Behind every campaign won, every door knocked, and every community strengthened - there's a person who showed up. Who is that person for you?
The Liberal Democrat Party Awards celebrate the members and Local Parties who are the heartbeat of our movement. Every Conference, we honour those who've shown exceptional dedication, tireless energy, and genuine service to our party and the communities we fight for.
Know someone who's inspired you, lifted those around them, or simply refused to stop working for what they believe in? Nominate them now. It takes just a few minutes - and it means everything to the people who deserve our recognition.
Nominate someone today through our official nomination portal.
This year's awards will be presented by the Party President at the Autumn Conference in Brighton, with each winner receiving a trophy in recognition of their outstanding contribution.
The awards for presentation at this year's Autumn Conference are:
The President’s Award
Eligibility: open to any Party Member elected to public office and who has demonstrated excellence and commitment, either in that role or both in that role and other roles for the party.
Criteria: the winner will be recognised for outstanding commitment and service to the Party. Local, regional, and state parties should be seeking to nominate people who deserve recognition for their hard work, long service, and demonstrable dedication to the party, at whatever level. It is expected to be special awards to be awarded from the Party for whom public recognition is overdue. Nomination Portal
The Harriet Smith Liberal Democrat Distinguished Service Award
Background: this award is named for Harriet Smith, who campaigned and worked tirelessly for the Party, notably alongside Paddy Ashdown, with the Federal Conference Committee, and in the Bath party. A beloved figure, she is also missed from the Conference revue and by the team at the Liberator Magazine.
Eligibility: open to any Party Member never elected to public office.
Criteria: the Harriet Smith Award shares its conditions with the President’s award. Nomination Portal
The Belinda Eyre-Brook Award
Background: this award is named for legendary campaigner Belinda Eyre-Brook, whose achievements with the Party include being Ed Davey’s agent in 1997, overturning 15,000 Tory Majority, and establishing one of the party’s longest-serving MPs.
Eligibility: given to recognise and celebrate the efforts of people working for our elected representatives in their local areas - from local party employees to political assistants to council groups, to people working in MPs’ constituency offices.
Criteria: the winner of this award will care about their local area and be committed to the success of Liberal Democrats within it. Turning local political priorities into electoral success, and priorities for elected officials is a key part of the work of successful local Party figures - as is linking with the national party. Nomination Portal
The Dadabhai Naoroji Award
Background: this award is named for the ‘Grand Old Man of India’, Liberal MP, and joint founder of the Indian National Congress, Dadabhai Naoroji. His work highlighting the reality of British rule over India and campaign for justice is an example to us all and his place in history, as the first non-white and first Indian Parliamentarian, is assured.
Eligibility: presented annually to the local Party that has done most to promote ethnic minority participants to elected office as Councillors, Assembly Members or Members of Parliament.
Criteria: this award is designed to encourage local parties to work towards the goal of increasing their ethnic diversity to more accurately reflect the areas they represent, and to recognise those that already make a great effort to involve different communities in their work. Nomination Portal
The Penhaligon Award
Background: this award is named for former MP David Penhaligon, a cherished former stalwart of the Cornish Party who took the seat of Truro in 1974. David was a prominent figure in the party and the nation and will always be remembered for his succinct advice to local campaigners: “‘stick it on a piece of paper and stuff it through a letterbox’.
Eligibility: any local Party
Criteria: presented to the local party anywhere in the world which demonstrates the most impressive increase in membership and exemplary activities to deliver and involve members and supporters. It recognises the hard work done to build a Party which is attractive and effective at a local level. Nomination Portal
The Patsy Calton Award
Background: one of our more recent awards, the Patsy Calton is named for the former MP for Cheadle and is presented (and judged) by Lib Dem Women. Patsy was a hugely respected Parliamentarian and her legacy also lives on through her eponymous award given by Breakthrough Breast Cancer.
Eligibility: exceptional women ranging from Councillors, to members, to Parliamentarians.
Criteria: awarded to those who have achieved more for their constituents, the underprivileged in society, or perhaps even taken on government and changed things for the better. Please click here for more information about the award and Lib Dem Women. Nomination Portal
Candidates for all awards must be a party member, and be nominated by a party member.
What is the deadline and when will I find out?
Nominations will close at noon on Wednesday 12th August 2026.
If your nominee is selected for an award, they and you will be informed by early September.
The Spring Conference 2026 winners.
Our Party President, Josh Babarinde MP, presented awards to some outstanding Liberal Democrat members.
Congratulations to all our winners, and thank you for all that you have done to deserve them.
Bertha Bowness Fischer Award
This award recognises the contributions of a newer member - with this year's winner, Nailah Sharif, having been a Liberal Democrat for just over a year. In that time Nailah has organised events to engage diverse communities, raised thousands of pounds through fundraisers, brought new people into the Liberal Democrats, played a key role in making action days a success and much more.
Albert Ingham Award
This award goes to an election agent or campaign manager in recognition of an outstanding campaign - and this year goes to Bob Vance - someone who has spent years doing the patient, unglamorous, essential work of organising a campaign and community to deliver the first Liberal Democrat MP in Dorking and Horley for 108 years. And he isn't stopping - he's fired up for the Surrey unitary elections in May!
Laura Grimond Award
Dedicated to those who do unsung work behind the scenes, this year's award went to Julie Bushell. Julie started the Clerical Club in North Shropshire, a group that met every single week to stuff envelopes, address them and bundle leaflets to help get our message out there. You've only got to look at the Shropshire Council election results from last year and Helen Morgan’s stonking majority to see just how pivotal her efforts have been.
Leader’s Award
Leader’s Award
Awarded to someone who has shown exemplary leadership skills - this year, for the first time, we have two winners - The first winner is Roderick Lynch.
Roderick has spent years working to make this party more diverse, representative, and reflective of the country we serve. As founder and Chair of the Liberal Democrat Campaign for Race Equality, he has led Super Action Days for ethnic minority candidates across the country, mentored members, and brought his lived experience to shape party policy. He pours his all into this mission and has refused to let his own health challenges stop him from showing up for others.
Leader’s Award
The second winner of the Leader's Award is Jerry Roodhouse.
Jerry has given this party decades of consistent, dedicated service. He was first elected to Rugby Borough Council in 1990, then Warwickshire County Council in 1993. He has stood for Parliament four times and has led the Lib Dem Group at Warwickshire County Council for over twenty years. Throughout every single one of them he has given everything to this party and the communities he serves.
Jerry was unable to attend Conference as he was canvassing for the Local Elections all weekend. His friend and colleague, Sarah Boad collected the award on his behalf and presented it to him at home.
Finally, Josh presented a very special recognition award in order to recognise the incredible contributions of a veteran Liberal Democrat, Elizabeth Shields.
Elizabeth, having just turned 98, is the most life-experienced living former MP in the country, and is still a serving parish councillor! When she was elected to Parliament, Elizabeth became the first Liberal woman to enter the House of Commons since Megan Lloyd-George, who had entered the Commons 57 years prior. She has spent her life fighting for women's rights and equality, and has never stopped. Thank you, Elizabeth, for everything you have done for our party.