I'M often asked about my working life as an MP. Bluntly, what do I do?

Well, here's a typical Friday and next month I'll relate a typical Westminster day.

8am I start in my Harlow office dealing with constituents, casework and correspondence.

9am I visit Clement Clarke as part of my regular programme of visits to Harlow firms.

10.30am quarterly meeting with Arriva management to press for improvements to our bus service. I get numerous complaints about buses and we need better services, and I'm pressing for them.

noon visit St James' School to talk to our teachers. Our schools are improving and the Government and teachers have to work together. That's why I visit a school staff room every couple of weeks.

1pm meeting with council chief executive about regeneration of the town centre.

2pm visit Motability, based in Harlow, to discuss how they provide cars for disabled people.

4pm visit Church Langley Mother and Toddler Group to talk to parents about childcare and the MMR vaccine.

5pm my regular advice surgery. I see 25 people in two-and-a-half hours. Most of the time surgeries are about helping people unlock bureaucracy. They also keep your feet on the ground.

8pm 'Meet Your MP' meeting which I hold regularly around the constituency. Forty people turn up and we discuss an enormous range of local and national issues.

There's no better way to keep in touch and know what people think.

10pm home at last. I reintroduce myself to my wife.