Nadine Dorries has been handed the Readers' Representative Award by The Spectator.

The Mid Bedfordshire MP picked up the accolade during the magazine's annual parliamentarian of the year awards.

It was said she earned it for her efforts to tighten up Britain's abortion laws.

Mrs Dorries said: "It is a great honour and privilege to have won this award. I was extremely surprised when I had been nominated.

"In particular, I would like to thank all those members of the public who nominated me, as without their support I would not be in this position."

She added: "It is encouraging to know that so many people have been supporting me in the campaign to reduce the number of abortions in the UK. Although I did not achieve a reduction in the upper limit at which abortions can take place from 24 to 20 weeks, the campaign successfully utilised the media to tap into the public's mood on this issue and managed to prevent a further liberalisation of the UK's abortion laws.

"I am genuinely humbled by this award, particularly as I was only elected to the House of Commons a little over three years ago. However, for me personally the greatest award is the privilege of representing the people of Mid Bedfordshire in parliament."