HOLYROOD, Westminster and local politicians will gather in Edinburgh tonight to learn who has won in each of eight categories of The Herald, Scottish Politician of the Year Awards 2012.
The awards, supported by ScottishPower Renewables, RBS Group, NVT Group and the Improvement Service, take place at Prestonfield House Hotel.
The shortlist of 27 MSPs, MPs, councillors and campaigners reflects a year dominated by the independence referendum, council elections, and the Government's pledge to allow same-sex marriage.
Labour leader Johann Lamont and Deputy First Minister Nicola Sturgeon are up against each other in two categories, including Scottish Politician of the Year, presented by The Herald, which is also contested by Presiding Officer Tricia Marwick in recognition of her reforms to Holyrood procedures.
Ms Lamont is recognised for her performances at First Minister's Questions and Ms Sturgeon for steering minimum alcohol pricing through parliament.
She is also shortlisted for her commitment to same-sex marriage in the Political Impact of the Year award, while Ms Lamont is there for her decision to question the fairness and affordability of some universal benefits. In the Best Scot at Westminster category, LibDem Treasury chief Danny Alexander, Labour's shadow energy minister Tom Greatrex and LibDem Scottish Secretary Michael Moore are shortlisted.
In contention for the Donald Dewar Debater of the Year award, supported by NVT Group, are Kenny MacAskill for his party conference barnstormer on Nato, LibDem leader Willie Rennie for his FMQs contributions, and SNP backbencher Dennis Robertson for his moving speech on his daughter's death from anorexia.
The One to Watch award for rising stars, supported by Scottish Power Renewables, is between the SNP's local government minister Derek Mackay, Labour's Jenny Marra, and Humza Yousaf.
The Politics in Business Award, a new category supported by RBS Group, recognises politicians who have engaged with the business community, while the Scottish Local Politician of the Year category features three Labour councillors who led their parties to victory in the council elections: Andrew Burns in Edinburgh, Barney Crockett in Aberdeen and Gordon Matheson in Glasgow. David Parker, the Independent leader of Scottish Borders Council, completes the list.
Argyll youngster Martha Payne, whose school meals blog raised more than £100,000 for the Mary's Meals charity in Malawi, is shortlisted in the Public Campaign or Campaigner of the Year award.
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