Labour MPs take the honours in Parliamentary Pancake Race
A team of Labour MPs took the honours in a Parliamentary Pancake Race today, Shrove Tuesday (20th February).
Teams from the House of Commons, the House of Lords and the Fourth Estate (the media) lined up on College Green outside the Houses of Parliament to battle it out.
The event was organised by Rehab UK, a brain injury charity which provides assessment, training and development programmes that enable people with disabilities to break into the workforce.
Under the stewardship of broadcaster and former barrister Clive Anderson, the race saw the Labour MPs take first place, narrowly beating off the challenge from sponsors Aramark, the Conservative MPs, the media and the Lords team.
Labour team captain Lindsay Hoyle, MP for Chorley, said: ”This was a triumph for experience and many years of practice in this important event. I think now it is time to push for pancake racing to become an Olympic event – and we might just be the right team for 2012!”
Mr Hoyle was joined in the winning team by Betty Williams, MP for Conwy, and Dr Brian Iddon, Bolton SE. Mr Hoyle himself ran two legs in the relay after injury forced a late withdrawal from colleague Jim Dobbin, a stalwart of previous years.
The starter, broadcaster and former barrister Clive Anderson, was not called upon to intervene or disqualify any competitors, despite some liberal interpretation of the Rules of Engagement – which included a ban on throwing ingredients at other competitors and strict guidelines on what constitutes gentlemanly and gentlewomanly behaviour!
The Conservative team featured a mix of youth and experience, including Daniel Kawczynski, MP for Shrewsbury & Atcham; Justine Greening, MP for Putney and Jeremy Hunt, MP for SW Surrey.
For the Lords, captain Lord Morris was ruled out by injury, but as a non-running captain he led a team including Lord and Lady Dholakia, Lord Tyler and late substitute Marie Louise Rossi.
The media team included Nick Robinson, BBC political editor, Cathy Newman Channel 4 News political editor, Chris Ship ITN correspondent, and Niall Patterson from Sky News.
Kevin Purvis from Rehab UK said: “This was a titanic tussle, and at the end of the day, the Labour MPs were worthy champions. But our thanks go to all of the competitors who have helped us raise awareness of the needs of the 120,000 people in the UK who require treatment and support for brain injury every single year.”
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Notes to editor
1. The 10th Parliamentary Pancake Race took place on Shrove Tuesday (February 20th) opposite the Houses of Parliament on College Green, to support Rehab UK in its work for people with brain injury. The two Houses of Parliament will compete in the race along with members of the Fourth Estate (the press) and a team of chefs from sponsors Aramark.
2. Through this event, the Lords and Commons have supported for a decade the organisers, Rehab UK, a national charity concerned with the needs of people with brain injury and their return to employment and their appropriate place in the community.
3. Rehab UK provides assessment, training and development programmes that enable people with disabilities to break into the workforce. Founded in 1994, the development of a network of innovative brain injury centres is now the main focus of its work.The organisation operates three centres – in Birmingham, London and Newcastle.