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Consumer champion award presented to McFall
Fresh from getting Stephen Hester, chief executive of RBS, to admit even his parents think he is overpaid, John McFall, chairman of the Treasury select committee, picked up the Which? Consumer Champion for 2009 award at the House of Commons yesterday (12 January).
Mr McFall, who is MP for West Dunbartonshire, has been chairman of the committee since 2001, was chosen as the Consumer Champion of the Year for his role in improving financial services for consumers.
The committee has played a prominent role in questioning bankers, politicians and regulators about how the financial crisis came about and how to prevent it from happening again.
In December 2009, Mr McFall joined with Which? and fellow politicians, David Davis and Vince Cable, to form the future of banking commission, which aims to put the needs of ordinary people and wider society at the heart of a reformed banking system.
Peter Vicary-Smith, chief executive of Which?, said: "Under John's stewardship, the Treasury select committee has played an important role in holding banks to account over the financial crisis. In our view, this makes him a worthy winner of the Consumer Champion award for 2009."
Mr McFall said: "I am greatly honoured to be receiving this award, and my thanks go out to the members and staff of the Treasury select committee who have supported me in my work. This year has been dominated by the banking crisis, which has hit the ordinary person hard.
"It is crucial that we ensure that trust and confidence in the banking sector is restored. This can only be done by engaging with the public, and I will strive to continue along with Which? to see a fair deal is achieved for consumers."