I’m assuming that I’m not the only political blogger to receive an actual press release, this afternoon, from Channel 4 News, touting their 2005 political awards – which kind of suggests to me that blogging has really arrived, if only because a TV company is now shilling bloggers for free publicity.

Well, I’m game if they are, so the full release is as follows:

CHANNEL 4 POLITICAL AWARDS 2006

Channel 4 News can announce the shortlist for the Most Inspiring Political Figure of 2005 – voted for by the public – and presented to the winner on 1st February at the 8th annual Channel 4 Political Awards. Watch tonight’s news programme from 7pm for full details.

Before Christmas, Channel 4 News invited the public to nominate who they felt should make the shortlist for the Channel 4 News Most Inspiring Political Figure award. We can now announce a shortlist of six candidates. Channel 4 News viewers will decide on the winner over the next two weeks and can vote via the web, via text or by phone – details below. The voting will close at midnight on 31st January 2006.

WHO INSPIRED YOU IN 2005?
This year’s shortlisted nominees are: (in alphabetical order)
Tony Blair – won an unprecedented third term as a Labour Prime Minister.
David Cameron – came from the back of the field to become overwhelming winner of the race to be Conservative Party leader.

Shami Chakrabarti – emerged as the face and voice of civil liberties as she took on the government over incitement to religious hatred, terror laws in the wake of July 7 and more.

George Galloway – faced down the US Senate and overturned a 10,000 majority to win Bethnal Green and Bow.
Bob Geldof – repeated the global success of Live Aid 20 years on with July’s Live 8 concert.
Jamie Oliver – caught the public mood and forced the Government’s hand with his school-dinners campaign.

HOW TO VOTE:
Viewers can email via the website (http://www.channel4.com/politicalawards) by clicking the relevant name or by phoning or texting the numbers below:

PHONE:
BLAIR 09011 27 27 01
CAMERON 09011 27 27 02
CHAKRABARTI 09011 27 27 03
GALLOWAY 09011 27 27 04
GELDOF 09011 27 27 05
OLIVER 09011 27 27 06
TEXT:
Alternatively, you can send your
vote via Text

AWARD BLAIR to 83188
AWARD CAMERON to 83188
AWARD CHAKRABARTI to 83188
AWARD GALLOWAY to 83188
AWARD GELDOF to 83188
AWARD OLIVER to 83188

Notes to Editors:
The 8th annual Channel 4 Political Awards will take place on the 1st of February in association with the Hansard Society before an invited audience of Members of Parliament, Peers and journalists.

The Most Inspiring Political Figure award is voted for by the public – with only one entry per person. Multiple votes from the same phone number or email address will be discounted. Lines close at midnight on 31st January 2006.

ENDS
For more information visit http://www.channel4.com/politicalawards or call the Channel 4 News Press Office on 020 7430 4220 or email Fiona.railton@itn.co.uk

As things stand I can’t say its the most inspiring list I’ve seen in my life, nor do I think the outcome of the poll will be particularly meaningful given that several of the candidates will undoubtedly attract organised campaigns to try and get them the win – the Tories will be all over Cameron, the SWP on Galloway and Harry’s Place will naturally be running an ‘anyone but Galloway’ campaign.

Still, as the award is for the most inspiring political figure of 2005 then I thing the strongest candidate has to be Tony Blair…

…No one else on the list has inspired anywhere near as much derision, loathing and outright cynicism in the last 12 months, nor inspired so many people to not vote for the Labour Party, even in the face of the shambolic state of both opposition parties prior to the last election, nor even inspired so many people to look forward to his retirement from politics; so I guess that makes him an easy winner – just not any sense that he’d appreciate or welcome.