Gavin Williamson nominated for MP of the Year amid exam chaos

The South Staffordshire MP was nominated by the public in July for the competition, organised by charity Patchwork UK, to find the top politician.

Mr Williamson was nominated as someone who has gone “above and beyond” in their role over the past year, the competition guidelines say.

But the move has prompted fierce criticism from students – despite nominations closing before the exam chaos ensued – with some asking on social media whether it was a “joke”.

Mr Williamson has long been considered one of the stars of Tory cabinet and continues to be a popular constituency MP in Staffordshire.

But his reputation has taken a severe knock following the fiasco with A-Level, GCSE and Btec results, which has caused enormous upheaval and ongoing uncertainty for tens of thousands of students trying to get into university places.

A spokesman for Patchwork UK said: “Congratulations to Gavin Williamson of the Conservatives for being nominated by the public for our 2020 MP of the Year Awards.”

Mr Williamson has said his focus “at every stage” was ensuring the best outcome for young people.

Concerns over the downgrading of exam results prompted some students in the MP’s constituency – and from further afield – to come together in a protest in which they called for action.

They marched on his constituency office in Codsall hours before a U-turn was made on downgraded results.

Former Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn, who grew up in Shropshire, is also among those nominated for MP of the Year, despite him leading the party to their worst defeat since the 1930s.

Voting for the competition, which has been sponsored by KPMG, closes at midnight on August 31.