Her eighth album, Let England Shake, was inspired by the horrors of war and was the bookies favorite to win the prize.

Harvey said she was motivated to make a record which was "not just meaningful to myself but to other people."

Speaking at last night's event at the Grovesnor Hotel in London, Harvey said she was delighted to be able to pick up the award in person, after being stuck in a hotel room in Washington, watching the Pentagon ...