Preceded by Constituency created Nationality British Role Politician Succeeded by Will Quince | Majority 6,982 (15.1%) Name Bob Russell Political party Liberal Democrats | |
 | ||
Born 31 March 1946 (age 78)
London, England ( 1946-03-31 ) Other political
affiliations Labour (1971–1981)
SDP (1981–1988) Religion Non-conformist Protestant | ||
Sir Robert Edward "Bob" Russell (born 31 March 1946) is a Liberal Democrat politician in the United Kingdom who was the Member of Parliament for Colchester from 1997 to 2015 (re-elected 2001, 2005 and 2010, defeated 2015). He was knighted in the 2012 New Year Honours for public service.
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Career
Before being elected to the House of Commons, Russell was a councillor for more than twenty years, initially for the Labour Party, then for the Social Democrats, and finally for the Lib Dems. He represented the New Town ward in Colchester. He was leader of Colchester Borough Council until 1991, having previously served as Mayor of Colchester for the year 1986–87.
Russell stood unsuccessfully for Parliament for Colchester in 1979 as a Labour candidate.
Russell was the Liberal Democrats' spokesman on Culture, Media and Sport from 2002 to 2005, when he was replaced by Don Foster. He was a member of the Liberal Democrat Shadow Defence team until the formation of the Conservative – Liberal Democrat Coalition Government on 11 May 2010, at which point he became a backbencher.
At the general election in 2010 Russell had a majority of 6,982 votes (15.1%).
In 2011 Russell was a member of the special Select Committee set up to scrutinise the Bill that became the Armed Forces Act 2011.
Russell was a member of the Beveridge Group and vice-chair of the All Party Parliamentary Flag Group. He also sits on the Defence Select Committee.
Causes
Russell is known for supporting unusual causes, such as petitioning the House of Commons for the return of Young's bitter to the Strangers' Bar.
Russell has spoken out against celebrity tax exiles, including Lewis Hamilton.
Russell is a supporter of Votes at 16.
Controversy
In December 2010 a reply he wrote to a letter from a constituent concerned about the cost of the coming Royal Wedding was published in the press. In it Russell told his constituent to "get a life and stop whinging". In 2011 he followed this up with another contentious letter to a constituent. Referring to him as a "rubbish man", Russell accused those in support of the Visual Arts Facility as "expecting the council to fund their social life".
Expenses
In 2012 Russell was found to have broken parliamentary expenses rules after claiming more than 70,000 pounds over seven years for an office owned by a company in which he was a major shareholder. He was found to have acted in good faith, but was found to be in "clear breach" of the rules. Russell apologised, stating: "I have not personally made a financial gain from the arrangements. Rather I have made a significant personal contribution to provide an office which is fit for purpose at no additional cost to the public purse." He added: "The fact that no further action is to be taken indicates that my breach was a technical one."
Outside interests
Russell is a former season ticket holder for Colchester United football club, and wrote the foreword for the latest history of the club.