Political Awards

I'm not altogether sure politicians should get awards, but since BBC Wales have this week named me 'Communicator of the Year' and ITV Wales 'First Term AM of the Year', I just wanted to put on record my thanks to both organisations.

It’s always nice to be recognised, and I feel genuinely honoured to have won these awards, but there is no bigger honour than representing the Rhondda in the National Assembly. Winning the
Rhondda back for Labour in 2003 was the proudest moment of my political life.

I was pleased that the citation which accompanied the ITV award said I was ‘an enthusiastic ambassador’ for the Rhondda and it would be hard ‘to find a speech of Leighton’s that does not mention the Rhondda’.

I was also pleased that both ITV and BBC Wales mentioned my weblogs. BBC Wales specifically mentioned the way I had used my other weblog to communicate with fans of Cardiff City during the club’s financial crisis earlier this year.

The main part of the ITV award was the cartoon above - I guess we have the Oscars, the Baftas, and now we have the Mumphs!