Simon Danczuk shortlisted for Contrarian Prize

Photo: Journeaux

Simon Danczuk

Rochdale MP Simon Danczuk has been shortlisted for the Contrarian Prize – an award that aims to recognise individuals in British Public Life that demonstrate independence of thought, courage and conviction in their actions, make a sacrifice and who have an impact on public debate.

Speaking about his nomination, Mr Danczuk said: “It’s a great honour to be nominated for the Contrarian Prize. I’m a big fan of this award because I think we need more contrarians in public life.

“Conformity and group-think are the main reasons why politics is such a turn off for so many people and I hope this award will help encourage more politicians to challenge the status quo and think outside the box.”

Mr Danczuk co-authored ‘Smile for the Camera: The Double Life of Cyril Smith,’ a book in which he alludes to the fact that Smith could not have acted alone and that he must have been protected by a wider group.

The book went on to be named as the Sunday Times Political Book of the Year and was shortlisted for Political Book of the Year.

Mr Danczuk has also led the way in calling for a wide-ranging public inquiry into child sexual exploitation, after nine men were convicted for grooming and abusing children in Rochdale and Heywood.

For his endless campaign work around child sexual exploitation, he was named as Campaigner of the Year in 2014 by the Political Studies Association.

Mr Danczuk will go up against Craig Murray, a former British Ambassador to Uzbekistan, author and human rights activist, Ed Hussain, a former Islamist radical, author and Adjunct Senior Fellow at the Council of Foreign Relations, Nevres Kemal, a social worker and founder of a charity that supports whistleblowers and George Galloway, a politician, broadcaster and writer.

The winner will be announced by broadcaster Jonathan Dimbleby at a ceremony in Piccadilly on Thursday 18 June.