AN MP for North Somerset has scooped a top prize for his work to recognise people with Down's syndrome under law.

At an awards event in London last week, Dr Liam Fox bagged campaigner of the year after his private member’s bill became the Down Syndrome Act in April.

England is now the first country in the world to recognise Down's syndrome under law allowing thousands of people to access better access medical, social care and educational services.

Dr Fox thanked the work of Boris Johnson's government, baroness Sheila Hollinsand and the National Down Syndrome Policy Group for helping to push the bill through parliament. 

He said: "When I was born, the life expectancy for people with Down's syndrome was just 13 years and when I became a junior doctor, it was 30.

"It's now at 60, meaning this is the first generation of those with Down's syndrome who will outlive their parents. It leaves us with an entirely predictable set of personal tragedies if we don’t make provisions for those with Down's syndrome.

Dr Fox added: "I am enormously grateful to my colleagues across the House of Commons whose experiences as constituency MPs ensure they understand the problems those with Down's syndrome face getting access to medical care, educational services and social care because they have seen those problems.

"For all the cynicism about politics, when we actually recognise that it’s less about hubris and more about humanity, we can genuinely make a difference."

The Spectator magazine's Annual Parliamentarian Awards ceremony was held on November 23.