Nelson Mandela is the most popular political hero among British MPs, ahead of British political icons such as Winston Churchill and Margaret Thatcher, according to a poll released this week.

Mandela was described by 27 of the 150 MPs polled (18%) as their political hero, putting him well ahead of former Tory prime ministers, Margaret Thatcher and Winston Churchill, who came second and third respectively. Thatcher received 12 votes, while Churchill received 11.