Election puts Jessops photography contest on back burner

The annual parliamentary photography competition, which pitches MPs and peers against one another and is sponsored by Jessops, has been put on hold.

Last year a record number of MPs and Lords battled for glory in the contest which is organised by the All-Party Parliamentary Photography Group and takes place each spring.

A spokesman for Austin Mitchell MP, who chairs the group, said: ?We decided it wasn?t really feasible to have it at the normal time. We are probably looking at sometime in October or November but we won?t be setting anything in stone until after the election.?

More than 600 images were entered into last year?s shootout, which invited politicians to submit up to 10 images from their political or personal lives.

Participants included former transport secretary Geoff Hoon.

Among the veteran politicians who took part was former Chancellor of the Exchequer Lord Healey.

Eight ‘Judges’ Choice’ images won a £100 for the charity Barnardo’s and the best images went on show in The Houses of Parliament and at selected Jessops stores nationwide.