William Wilberforce to judge Hull MP's Christmas card competition

Diana Johnson MP today launched her third annual competition asking Hull North primary schoolchildren to design her official Parliamentary Christmas card.

The Hull North MP also announced that William Wilberforce, a family descendant of the former Hull MP and slavery abolitionist, has agreed to judge this year's competition.

Following the success of Diana's previous two Christmas card competitions in 2005 and 2006, at least 13 Hull North primary schools have so far indicated that they will be taking part in the 2007 competition. Children at these schools have been busy working on their entries.

Diana Johnson today reminded the participating schools, and those considering entering, that with a competition deadline of 19 October time is pressing to sign up for the competition, and to get entries finished and ready for collection.

The winning Christmas card design will be sent to hundreds of people across the country; from constituents, family and friends to regional and national figures in charities, business, the media and politics - including the Prime Minister.

The competition winners, to be announced in November, will receive prizes donated by local competition sponsors. The winning card design will then be printed at Hull's Palm Press.

The overall competition winner will receive a free train journey to London, courtesy of sponsor Hull Trains, shortly before Christmas to meet Diana for tea at the Commons and to hand in their winning card to 10 Downing Street.

Diana Johnson MP said: "Once again, I am asking Hull North primary school pupils to design my official Christmas card. I like sending out Christmas cards that are a bit different from the run-ofthe-mill cards that you get and that capture the magic of Christmas through the eyes of our youngsters in Hull.

"I recently invited all the primary schools in my Hull North constituency to enter the competition. I am grateful that so many are again taking part, despite all the disruption caused by June's flooding.

"I am delighted that William Wilberforce will be this year's judge. William does much more than keep an historic name alive. With other members of the Wilberforce family, William has taken an active interest in this year's Wilberforce 2007 events in Hull. He is a great supporter of the present-day international causes that are the modern equivalent of his great ancestor's campaign against the slave trade.

"Thanks to our local sponsors, there will be prizes for the winners and I hope to welcome the overall winner to the House of Commons. There is still time for more Hull North primary schools to enter by contacting my Hull office on 01482 319135. However, with a 19 October deadline for entries, there is not much time left to get those designs finished and ready for collection. We will announce the competition winner on my website at www.dianajohnson.co.uk during November."

Competition judge William Wilberforce said: "It's a pleasure enter the Christmas spirit and assist the work of one of Hull's 21st Century MPs!

"I am sure that it will be a tough decision when I choose the competition winner, but I am looking forward to seeing how creative Hull North's primary schoolchildren can be. It's a nice way of concluding Wilberforce 2007 year."