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