John Greenway, the Ryedale, North Yorkshire MP who successfully steered the BHS-initiated Ragwort Control Bill through parliament, has won the inaugural ePolitix Charity Champion Award for animal welfare.
The awards are organised by ePolitix.com, a political website which aims to improve communication between elected representatives and the public, to recognise the work done by MPs in promoting and assisting charitable causes.
Four MPs were nominated for the animal welfare award including Mr Greenway, who was put forward by the BHS. The society is delighted that his efforts have been recognised.
BHS chief executive, Kay Driver, says: “John has paved the way for a code of practice that will be admissible in evidence and will provide, for the first time, a strategy by which landowners and occupiers can formulate policy for effective ragwort control.
“We will never know how many horses’ lives have been saved thanks to John but he has earned the gratitude of every horse owner in the country. He is a deserving winner of the first ePolitix Charity Champion animal welfare award.”
Mr Greenway received his award earlier this week in a ceremony at the Queen Elizabeth II Conference Centre, London.
He told the audience: “Horses are much loved animals and sadly, too many die from ragwort poisoning. I didn’t need much persuading to introduce the Bill on behalf of the BHS.”