Bob Russell is the Lib Dem MP for Colchester, and he’s always been a bit different.
He’s a very independent-minded kind of guy.
He’s the man who reported Lord Hanningfield to the police over expenses.
In the summer the magazine So Essex placed him at no. 8 in their list of the top 20 most influential people in Essex. (no other MPs were included at all).
And now , Bob has been knighted in the New Years Honours list – so he is now Sir Bob!
As the Independent puts it :”
One of Nick Clegg’s fiercest Liberal Democrat critics … [has] been knighted.
….
Bob Russell first won Colchester for the Liberal Democrats in 1997. He has been a constant thorn in the Deputy Prime Minister’s side, rebelling against increases to university tuition fees and the rise in VAT.
Must say that in my own dealings with him I’ve been definitely impressed. I once sent a general email to Essex Lib Dems (not to Bob in particular) asking for advice on residents parking schmes. Bob came back with a helpful reply in 53 minutes.
Congratulations to him. I have good opinion of him for defending the Lib Dem polices that the people of Colchester elected him on.