THE Sun has been shortlisted for a series of prestigious press awards – including journalist and newspaper of the year.

Political Editor Harry Cole has been shortlisted in the London Press Club Awards in the Journalist of the Year and Political Journalist of The Year categories.

The Sun has also been shortlisted for Daily Newspaper of the Year.

Doug Wills, chair of London Press Club, said: “It has been a phenomenal news year, particularly in British politics and world affairs.

“We are delighted that this year we have the new award for Political Journalist of the Year.

“Thanks to the support of Lord Salisbury, this award comes with £1,500 prize money for the winner.”

The Sun, Britain’s biggest newsbrand reaching 31.1 million people a month, consistently holds power to account, champions the freedoms and rights of our readers as well as those in need, and is committed to promoting media freedom.

We stepped up the campaigning for our 10 year campaign to keep the price of fuel duty down – ‘Keep it Down’ – and were name checked by the chancellor when he confirmed in this year’s budget we had once again won a real tangible saving on our readers behalf.

We won back £76,000 for our readers through the Squeeze Team campaign, and also reported the scandal of the 4 million hard-up families who pay more for energy because of prepayment meters, explaining readers rights for them.

Following the campaign the government announced in the Budget they would change the rules so it no longer happens.

Through our Earthquake Fund we lobbied big businesses including Tesco and M&S to raise vital funds (1.5million) with the British Red Cross for those affected by the earthquake in Syria and Turkey.

The Sun’s latest campaign, backed by the Princess of Wales, seeks to help struggling baby banks through the cost of living crisis with Save The Children and Little Village.

Harry Cole continued to hold to account the most powerful people in the country and kept the heat on the government during an unprecedented year of change.

During Conservative party conference Harry Cole broke the news of a U-Turn on the controversial mini budget under then Prime Minister Liz Truss and her then chancellor Kwasi Kwatang and asking serious questions around the country’s finances.

The news broke on the Sun website and that’s how the country – and the ministers at party conference – learned that the Truss mini-Budget was beginning to unravel.

The chancellor quit the next day, and the Prime Minister followed shortly.

Harry and The Sun also helped to secure important concessions to the draconian National Security Bill, which could have led to journalists being treated like spies, and imprisoned for revealing secrets which were embarrassing to the Government.

The Sun followed up the news – that a review would see journalists jailed for up to 14 years if they handle or publish secret government documents and risks criminalising journalists for legitimate reporting – with updates, op-eds and leaders.

The Sun hosted a packed out event with Womens Aid for our Speak Out campaign to end domestic violence.

Hosted by Sun on Sunday’s political editor, the panel included Mel B, Mims Davies, Deputy Chief Constable Maggie Blyth, and was the Sun’s splash, picked up widely by other news sites.

A similar campaign, Justice for Joanna, led to Deputy PM Dominic Raab vowing to meet Joanna’s family to discuss the case.

The Sun’s defence editor Jerome Starkey continued to report from Ukraine getting to the heart of the conflict.

His films helped to make The Sun’s YouTube channel one of the biggest news publishers on YouTube.

The Sun broke the biggest Royal news, including the Queen would meet the incoming PM in Balmoral for the first time because of declining health, and world exclusive Harry and Meghan were to be evicted from Frogmore, confirmed by the couple and picked up globally.

Other agenda setting stories this year from The Sun have included Nadhim Zahawi’s tax affairs and eventual resignation, Gary Glitter’s release from prison and subsequent return following exclusive pictures showing him breaking bail condition, Holly and Phil not speaking followed up by that Phillip Schofield interview.