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Bob Russell MP (Lib Dem) Colchester

The Colchester MP used the debate "Ensuring fairness in a time of austerity" to champion the cause of child poverty and explain why he speaks out against the coalition.

"A few days ago I read an article which said there is no future for the Liberal Democrats to the left of Labour. Equally there is no future for our party to the right of the Conservatives".

"It is vital that we retain our separate identities and in my own small way this is what I am seeking to achieve both through words and visually".

Mr Russell has been campaigning against child poverty for some time. It is a cause he passionately believes in. His motivation is his three grandchildren who he believes have had a lucky start in life compared with many others.

"Labour left 3.9 million children living below the poverty line - one of the worst records in Europe. It is not one to be proud of".

He said he had received emails from people across the country, many who were poor or disabled who were worried about the prospect of spending cuts. One woman, he claimed, had told him she was so worried she was contemplating suicide.

"I do not accept that cuts are fair - they are a contradiction in terms. We do have to recognise that 75% of cuts are Labour cuts ... but it doesn't make them fair".

And he was also concerned about demonising people who claim benefits:

"I would urge ministers to be very careful with the language they use. Welfare cheats are not people we can support but the language used is also tarnishing people who are in genuine need who are fearful of where the axe is going to fall".

It was a short speech but it left his audience in no doubt that he will continue to speak his mind and campaign.

"If we as a party, irrespective of the austerity and the spending cuts, if we could make it our mission to remove every child from poverty.

"That would be something we could be proud of as a coalition".

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