How would Melody Maker (does it exist any more? and Froots be of relevance to "traditional folk music"?

The tune from the session might have been traditional - in which case that might merit an award if anyone knew what it was. The words were not.

That song was no more eligible than the one I wrote (called the Folk Musician's Lament, using the probably traditional (by now) tune to "The Old German Musicianer") for an award as a traditional song. It's purely a matter of definition.

Likewise, for example, the songs written by the late Peter Bellamy, using his tunes to old (but of known authorship, Kipling) were not traditional and would not have been eligible.

I would however go somewhat further and say that Lakeman attributing the item as Trad arr Lakeman was wrong, and if he is one of the modern folk music graduates (I thought he was) as an academic he should have known it was wrong. He may or may not be an admirable musician or performer, or person, but the issue is whether the song was eligible and whether its inclusion was the result of incompetence or dishonesty, for there is no other possibility.

Perhpas the solution would be to rename the category as "Best track that is traditional or inspired by traditional or probably traditional sources".