The Big Society

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One of the pioneering policies of the Coalition Government has been The Big Society. This initiative has been based upon the principles of empowering communities, redistributing power and fostering a culture of volunteerism. We at www.the-big-society.co.uk felt certain that Members of Parliament would be leading by example with regard to this progressive, innovative strategy. Consequently, we wrote to every MP on the government benches to ask them to detail all the voluntary work they had undertaken during the summer and winter recesses of Parliament.

The results were underwhelming. At the time of David Cameron's relaunch of the Big Society project on 14 February 2011, only 8% of Coalition MPs had declared any voluntary contributions to The Big Society. The information to date suggests that the vast majority of Coalition MPs have yet to buy into The Big Society project. 

Are we really all in this together? Only time will tell.


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Bob Russell

Bob RussellLiberal Democrat
I take great exception to the tone of your letter which seems to be criticising me for not “declaring any voluntary contributions towards The Big Society”.

I do not need you, nor the Government or anyone else, to lecture me on this subject. What I do in my own time is none of your business. If I wish to volunteer as an individual, for this or that project or good deed, then I will do so. That has been my style throughout my 40 years of holding elected public office – and, from a Colchester perspective, I outlined this when I held an Adjournment Debate long before “The Big Society” was thought of.

What I can tell you is that during the Christmas Recess I held 4 Advice Bureaux for residents and undertook a busy diary of events. Are you saying that none of this counts towards your version of “The Big Society”?

No, I did not attend a soup kitchen although I have donated food to a “food bank”. Where does this put me on your name and shame list of MPs?

Thanks, but I will get on with what I am doing for “The Big Society” without any lectures from you or your organisation.

Yours sincerely – from Bob Russell, Lib-Dem MP for Colchester

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Andrew Bridgen

Andrew BridgenConservative
Over the past few weeks and months, I have accepted the invitation to become a patron or trustee of several charities and voluntary groups in my constituency including youth work, palliative care and environmental work. I am working with these organisations on issues such as tackling drug use in our market towns, care for the elderly and vulnerable and the care of the local envoirnment.


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Peter Bottomley

Peter BottomleyConservative
I went with school children over mountains in Tasmania with Tenzing Norgay; created the country’s second neighbourhood council in Lambeth, build a community park with volunteers, served as Sunday school teacher at All Saints, South Lambeth road. Additional things include being on the board of Christian Aid, chairing the Church of England’s Children’s Society, being on the Council of MIND, NACRO

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Gerald Howarth

Gerald HowarthConservative
Mr. Howarth is a member of the Government and, as a Minister, he continues to carry a full workload throughout the year, including during the Parliamentary recesses, leaving little time available for voluntary work at the present time while he is serving the country in other ways.

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