Jo Swinson in the running for Channel 4 political award

3.29.00pm GMT Wed 14th Nov 2007

Jo has been campaigning to curb excess packaging

Jo Swinson has been nominated for Channel 4's Campaigning Politician of the Year award, for her work on cutting excess packaging.

Jo received the backing of colleagues for the high-profile award following her recent presentation of a Bill to Parliament, which set out policies to curb wasteful packaging.

Andrew Stunell, Liberal Democrat MP for Hazel Grove, who nominated Jo for the award, commented:

"I'm backing Britain's youngest MP, who has campaigned hard in and out of Parliament for a revolution in packaging that is a model of effective action against climate change."

Commenting on the nomination, Jo said:

"It is flattering to receive recognition for the campaign against wasteful packaging. More importantly, it is a mark of how importantly people are now taking excess packaging as an issue.

"Disappointingly, the Government failed to back my Packaging Bill in Parliament by not allocating it enough time to be debated in the House of Commons. I will try to secure another chance to present the Bill in the New Year and continue looking for opportunities to raise the packaging issue in Parliament.

"Tougher action is needed to reverse the increase in wasteful packaging material. Consumers should not be made to pay the cost of excess packaging they don't want or need."

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Channel 4 political awards