Ipswich Liberal Democrats

Each Saturday, Colchester MP Sir Bob Russell gives an insight into the working week of a local MP.

In the roller-coaster of my life's experiences there have been some significant highs and some depressing low points.

I now add a wonderful new high, that of the spectacular success of the Colchester Military Wives' Choir who over six days I had the honour to accompany to the Canadian International Military Tattoo in Hamilton, Ontario, where they performed before 7,500 spectators.

For Saturday 8^th June 2013

Each Saturday, Colchester MP Sir Bob Russell gives an insight into the working week of a local MP.

The House of Commons returned on Monday afternoon following the Whitsun Recess, and by tea-time I had spoken three times. That's how things can go. Some weeks you may not speak at all, and then the subject of a debate or luck of the draw with questions provide opportunities to speak more than once although a hat-trick like this is not frequent.

If more people were trained as First Aiders then this would help reduce demands on Hospital Accident and Emergency Departments says Colchester MP Sir Bob Russell who is Chairman of the All-Party Parliamentary First Aid Group.

Speaking in a House of Commons debate about Hospital A&Es, Sir Bob said that not everyone needed to be there for treatment and that if more people knew about first aid there would be less pressure on Hospitals.

Sir Bob's Diary

For Saturday 31^st May 2013

Each Saturday, Colchester MP Sir Bob Russell gives an insight into the working week of a local MP.

Although some national newspapers would have you believe that MPs are currently on holiday, on the grounds that the House of Commons is not sitting, for me it has been a very busy time in Colchester with seven Advice Bureaux for residents in the space of nine days - around 80 appointments in total, covering a wide range of issues which will generate around 200 letters to central and local government and other public bodies.

Each Saturday, Colchester MP Sir Bob Russell gives an insight into the working week of a local MP.

Colchester at its best! Two fantastic events on the same day in Castle Park, the best municipal park in Essex - an area of landscaped public open space stretching from the War Memorial off the High Street to the edge of Leisure World, embracing Europe's largest Norman Castle Keep (circa AD 1086) and the oldest town walls in Britain dating back nearly 2,000 years to when Colchester was Capital of Roman Britain.

For Saturday 17^th May 2013

Each Saturday, Colchester MP Sir Bob Russell gives an insight into the working week of a local MP.

Another busy and varied week in the constituency and at Westminster, with votes on The Queen's Speech on Wednesday the final entry for this week.

After I had submitted my diary last Friday I had an urgent meeting with a Colchester company experiencing problems with export documentation. I am pursuing with the Secretary of State for Business.

The MP for Colchester, Sir Bob Russell, contributed to today's Queen's Speech Debate in Parliament. Limited to just 5 minutes, Sir Bob decided to concentrate on a single issue - a better deal for our community public houses.
Below is a copy of Sir Bob's speech.

"Successive governments have spoken of localism and sustainable communities, but the reality has not matched the rhetoric in many respects.

Military personnel who will be deployed on the last two engagements to Afghanistan - from October this year through to the end of 2014 - may have to serve for up to nine months rather than the usual six months, prompting Colchester MP Sir Bob Russell to say that they should have additional home leave during the extended period.

Each Saturday, Colchester MP Sir Bob Russell gives an insight into the working week of a local MP.

The pomp and pageantry of the State Opening of Parliament on Wednesday, the previous evening attending the final of the British Army Boxing Championships, and on Thursday welcoming the Deputy Prime Minister for an official visit to Colchester provided widely contrasting events in my diary over the past week.

Each Saturday, Colchester MP Sir Bob Russell gives an insight into the working week of a local MP.

The County Council Elections have dominated the past week. With Parliament not sitting, I have had a busy diary in my constituency including three Advice Bureaux sessions for residents.

A large amount of my time was devoted to campaigning on behalf of colleagues seeking election or re-election to Essex County Council. I knocked on hundreds of doors and delivered thousands of leaflets from early morning, at different times during the day, and well into the evenings.