Campaigning couple win award

David and Ozlem Grimason's son Alistair was killed in July 2003

A couple whose two-year-old son was shot dead in a gunfight in Turkey have won a special award for their work to rid the country of firearms.

David and Ozlem Grimason, whose two-year-old son Alistair died in Foca last year, were given the Public Campaigner award at a prize ceremony in Edinburgh.

The East Kilbride duo called for a repeal of the country's gun laws after their son was killed in a cafe.

Margaret Curran was named Scottish Politician of the Year at the event.

Alistair Grimason was shot while sleeping in his pram on 7 July 2003 after an argument broke out between two men.

Daimi Akyuz was jailed for 36 years in the summer after being found guilty of killing the Scottish toddler.

Major conference

The Grimasons collected a petition of 150,000 signatures in a bid to change Turkish gun policy and presented their case to the country's prime minister.

Mr Grimason also addressed a major conference in Istanbul to call for a ban on handguns.

On receiving the award, he said: "It was a difficult thing for us to do at the time.

"We lost our son but we felt we had to do something for the other people in Turkey that will lose their lives because of the lax gun laws there.

Margaret Curran lifted the Scottish Politician of the Year award

"Things have started to change over there, and laws will change soon."

Labour minister Margaret Curran lifted the top prize at the gala dinner, sponsored by The Herald newspaper and drinks company Diageo.

Ms Curran, 46, was elected MSP for Glasgow Baillieston in 1999 and became parliament minister in the recent reshuffle.

A spokesman for the judges said she had "clearly been the rising star of the ministerial team" and added: "She steered through the anti-social behaviour legislation and is a notable example of a politician who talks in a language that people can understand."

Accepting the award on Thursday evening, Ms Curran said: "We have had a big debate about moral values in politics in recent weeks, and I believe strongly in passion in politics.

"And I think some of the moral values for Scotland in the future are respect, tolerance and equality.

"I think if we go for that we have a brighter prospect for Scotland."

Ill health

Liberal Democrat foreign affairs spokesman Sir Menzies Campbell was named Best Scot at Westminster.

Sir Menzies, 63, reflecting on a period of ill health last year, told the audience: "2004 has been a rather better year for me than 2003.

"There is a lesson for all of us at Westminster - a period of unintended absence from the House of Commons does remarkable things for your reputation."

The other winners included:

• Donald Dewar Debater of the Year - Nicola Sturgeon, Scottish National Party MSP

• Committee award - Des McNulty, Labour MSP

• One to Watch - Patrick Harvie, Green Party MSP

• Free Spirit of the Year - Kenny MacAskill, SNP MSP

• Lifetime Achievement Award - Tam Dalyell, Labour MP

The awards were chosen by a nine-member panel of judges.