A regional business journalist has won a major national honour after highlighting flaws in major government schemes.

Greg Wright, deputy business editor of the Yorkshire Post, triumphed in the Journalist of the Year Nations and Regions category at the Harold Wincott Awards for financial journalism.

It follows a series of investigations into government programems such as the vaccine damage payment scheme, the loan charge tax policy which has been linked to ten suicides, and cavity wall insulation claims.

The prize brings to 18 the total number of journalism awards won by Greg since he joined the YP’s business desk in 2004.

Greg, pictured, received his award from from Lionel Barber, the former editor of the Financial Times who chairs the Wincott Foundation, set up in 1969 to honour Harold Wincott, the most distinguished economic journalist of his day.

Mr Barber described Greg as a “worthy winner with his campaigning journalism which identified flaws in major UK government programmes, including the vaccine damage payment scheme, loan charges related to suicides and cavity wall insulation claims.”

Said Greg: “It was a great honour to receive my award from Lionel Barber, who praised The Yorkshire Post’s coverage of the loan charge and SSB Law scandals which are causing misery for thousands of honest, law-abiding people.

“My entry also highlighted flaws in Britain’s vaccine damage payment scheme which is hopelessly out of date and fails to provide adequate compensation for people who are suffering from long term, life-changing conditions.

“Ed Balls, the keynote speaker, and Lionel both noted that courageous financial journalism is needed now more than ever.

“I dedicate my award to all my colleagues on The Yorkshire Post and everyone affected by the loan charge scandal in particular, a deeply flawed tax policy which has been linked with 10 suicides.”