About Patsy

Patsy Calton was the Liberal Democrat MP for Cheadle from 2001 to 2005. In 2001 she overturned a Conservative majority to win the seat from the sitting MP. Patsy’s majority was 33. In the 2005 election she held her seat with a majority of 4,020. She had stood previously as a parliamentary candidate in 1992 and 1997. She was the Party’s Spokesperson on Northern Ireland and Chair of the All Party Group on Breast Cancer,

Patsy had been a councillor in Stockport and became Deputy Leader of the  Council. She was a teacher and Head of Department in a local secondary school.

Shortly after the 1997 election, Patsy was diagnosed with breast cancer and underwent a double mastectomy and recovered from the disease. Determined to make a difference, she spoke about her illness and encouraged other women to undergo mammograms. To raise money for Macmillan Nurses, Patsy ran the London Marathon four times.

Unfortunately, cancer returned in February 2005 and she was too unwell to campaign. She was victorious in the election and was sworn in by the Speaker just four weeks before her death.

Breakthrough Breast Cancer established an award in her name, to recognise exceptional  achievement by Parliamentarians in the field of breast cancer.

Patsy Calton was an exceptional Liberal Democrat councillor, Parliamentarian and fighter for her constituents. Sadly, Patsy died on 29th May 2005, just a short while after being re-elected as M.P. for Cheadle. Liberal Democrat Women honour exceptional Liberal Democrats through the Patsy Calton Award, that was launched shortly after her death.

About the Award

Awardees may be exceptional councillors, party members or Parliamentarians, who have achieved more for their constituents, the underprivileged in society, perhaps even taken on government and changed things for the better.

If you know of an exceptional woman, either in your own local party, region or nationally that you feel is deserving of such an award, please nominate them ahead of the party's annual autumn conference.  The winner is decided by an independent judge appointed by the Lib Dem Women executive. 

Our Winners

2023 - Vikki Slade MP

Before being elected as MP for Mid Dorset and North Poole, Vikki had represented Broadstone Ward as councillor since 2011. Vikki is a trained Dementia Friend who worked with local disability groups to improve access to shops and businesses, reducing pavement clutter and parking. She ran a catering business and cafe starting in 2005, and at the same time became involved in mentoring disadvantaged young people and offered a number of apprenticeships and work placements. She was also chair of Broadstone Youth Club and a volunteer employability mentor at a number of secondary schools via Young Enterprise. In 2019 she was elected leader of Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Council and steered the community through the COVID crisis.

2022 - Laura Ryan

Laura steered her university society through COVID, boosting the membership and making a huge campaigning effort in the council elections. She set up "Cambridge University for Reproductive Rights", giving the pro-choice majority in Cambridge a voice.

2021 -  Candy Piercy

Candy was a founder member of the Lib Dems and is best known as a top campaigner, trainer and Parliamentary by-election helper. She has also been one of the driving forces behind the Campaign for Gender Balance (CGB) which runs training, coaching & mentoring aimed at getting more women elected to Westminster, the Scottish and Welsh Parliaments and to every level of local government. She has a special interest in all forms of diversity, writing and delivering the Party’s training on Unconscious Bias. Candy also supports and trains on behalf of the Racial Diversity Campaign, CGB’s sister organisation. Candy has trained political activists in over 30 new democracies around the world for organisations such as the EU and UN. She was awarded an MBE in 2014 for services to politics and international democracy.

2020 - Anood Al-Samerai

First elected in 2007, Anood has been an inspiration in her local party, London and beyond. She led the Liberal Democrat group on Southwark council for a decade until standing down as opposition group leader in the summer of 2020. She also ran Simon Hughes' office for eight years. Anood worked tirelessly to build both the Southwark party and the wider Liberal Democrat party, and also focused on and nurtured women and minorities to stand for election at all levels across the country. During her time as a Councillor she was also a determined local representative, standing up to Labour, saving youth services and developing ideas and policies which the Labour-run council cannot ignore.