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WEBCHAT GUIDELINES: 1. One question per member plus one follow-up. 2. Keep your question brief. 3. Don't moan if your question doesn't get answered. 4. Do be civil/polite. 5. If one topic or question threatens to overwhelm the webchat, MNHQ will usually ask for people to stop repeating the same question or point.

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Mumsnet webchats

Webchat with Nicola Sturgeon - 1pm Tuesday, 5th May

296 replies

JustineMumsnet · 01/05/2015 15:12

We’re pleased to announce that Nicola Sturgeon MSP, the First Minister of Scotland and leader of the SNP, will be joining us for a webchat at 1pm on Tuesday 5 May - just two days before the General Election.

Nicola is the MSP for Glasgow Southside. Before becoming an MSP she worked as a solicitor at the Drumchapel Law Centre. She has the distinction of having been called 'the most dangerous woman in British politics' by the Daily Telegraph (among others).

Whatever your hopes for the outcome of the election, there’s no doubt that the SNP’s surge in Scotland is one of 2015’s biggest stories of this election, with, most likely, big ramifications for UK as a whole.

So we hope you’ll join us and put your questions to Nicola on Tuesday 5 May at 1pm - and if you can’t be there on the day, please post up your questions in advance.

Please remember our webchat guidelines - do be polite/civil, and only one question each please as we reckon this is going to be a busy one!

Webchat with Nicola Sturgeon - 1pm Tuesday, 5th May
Tanaqui · 01/05/2015 15:26

Why do you think it is fair that people in Scotland receive a greater amount of public spending per head than people in England?

WhyBeHappyWhenYouCouldBeNormal · 01/05/2015 21:16

I [heart] Nicola. Please will you run in London? Why do you think Labour are so afraid of doing a deal with you?

chocolateyy · 01/05/2015 21:18

Hi Nicola,

How can it be fair that the people of Scotland have paid more into the UK treasury every year for the past 33 years than the rest of the UK taxpayers?

Nervo · 01/05/2015 21:28

Yay!

Nicola, I think you are marvelous.

[Crap question alert!]

I've always wanted to know how politicians keep going when they are absolutely knackered and have had very little sleep.

MrsAbernethy · 01/05/2015 21:28

Hi Nicola, no question just a big thank you. I got involved with our local WFI group in the run up to the Referendum and joined the SNP last year. My daughters are, thanks to your leadership, growing up in a country where women are encouraged to take an active role in politics. The choice that you made with the Scottish Government has made a huge impact on young women - so thank you! Flowers

chelseabuns2013 · 01/05/2015 21:30

As a women I feel your public image in England at least has been very much focused on your gender. Why is a strong, articulate, principled women being portrayed as such a threat to British politics, and how do you overcome this mysoginism ?

Nervo · 01/05/2015 21:32

YY - I joined WFI too MrsAbernethy. Such an inspiring group. Great to feel a part of a grass roots movement. Great to feel heard.

It is a privilege to be able to vote for Dr Philippa Whitford on Thursday.

frankie80 · 01/05/2015 21:33

Nicola (sorry, this is long)

2 years ago, no one really cared how I voted. No one asked. Now its the first thing people want to know when you meet them and its always the SNP/Yes voters who want to know. Other voters are simply too scared to declare.

During the 'Yes' campaign, I had your supporters surrounding my car at traffic lights, banging on my window and trying to put leaflets in my wipers. I drove through a red light to get away.

I had a neighbour crossing the road to 'check' I was definitely voting Yes (I wasn't) and my relative residing overseas told she was a 'traitor' for leaving.

This intimidation and nastiness of your supporters continues as just last week, a (now ex) friend of 15 years told my family she was voting SNP "to get the Westminster Jews out"

I don't think your party either now or during the referendum has done enough to curb this behavior or attitudes. I'm sure you will say it happens on both sides. I have seen no evidence of this. I don't want to hear 'oh but they have done this'. I want to hear what YOU will do to stop YOUR party's supporters behaving in such a way.

Your party's attitude to date has been to shrug it off and even your candidates are engaging in nasty comments and intimidation with my local SNP candidate using foul language and insulting hard working previous generations, and another one insulting those over 65.

happyhighlander · 01/05/2015 21:44

Hello Nicola, I firstly want to congratulate you for being such a genuine, principled and inspiring leader. I hope may more women follow your lead and engage more in politics.

My question - how will the SNP make a significant impact at Westminster and shake things up, as is desperately needed?

Annie6677 · 02/05/2015 08:52

Firstly thank you & well done. You have not just filled Alex Salmonds boots but outgrown them! You are both credible & admirable in how you carry yourself in discussion/debate.

My question (as a yes voter) - how can we convince opposers that a vote for SNP on Thursday is not a vote for another referendum & that you have, as I believe, genuinely got the best interests of all the UK at heart?

CormoranStrike · 02/05/2015 17:06

I admire you and respect all you have achieved, and you are certainly less divisive a character than your predecessor.

However, I do not support independence or the national part of the SNP's name at all, and never will.

Why should I risk a #GE2015 vote for the SNP when, I fear, your may use another referendum as an ultimatum in any Westminster deal.

Surely I am safer keeping the SNP out of Westminster politics, and giving you a shot at continuing running Scotland (to be fair you are not making a bad fist of it at all)?

AgentCooper · 02/05/2015 17:17

This is exciting!

Hello Nicola, I'm not an SNP voter (Scottish Greens) but I think you are doing a great job. I think you're a much smarter, more mature and more dignified politician than most others.

My reason for voting no last year was because lots of friends employed on low incomes by British organisationswere really worried about their jobs. If we were to become independent, how would the Scottish govt look after citizens in positions like that? Would there be a fund set up to support people earning below a certain level who lost their jobs due to UK companies withdrawing from Scotland?

Oh, and DH played for Dreghorn Boys when he was a child in Irvine, so he's chuffed to see a local girl doing so well Smile

bluerim · 02/05/2015 19:25

Hello Nicola

When Ed Miliband is prime minister, and asks for the support of SNP MPs in breaking up Rupert Murdoch's media empire, what do you hope their response will be?

You must know that many of us are very suspicious about the SNP's close relationship with Murdoch and find it difficult to believe that SNP MPs will support Labour's courageous position on this.

ASAS · 02/05/2015 19:35

I'll second that frankie.

Nicola, hi. Any hope at all for schools in the East End of Glasgow?

weeonion · 02/05/2015 19:55

Hi Nicola - great to see you here.

it is fantastic that you have made such a commitment to gender equality and I know that the SNP have launched the Violence Against Women strategy linked to that unit / policy. One,part of that VAW strategy is commercial sexual exploitation. How will your party now support challenging CSE when you voted against key legislative change proposed by a Scottish Labour party member?

Also linked with this VAW policy area - gender equality is linked with how women are represented in our mainstream culture. How do justify then the SNP's links with Rupert Murdoch and his corporations representation of women eg page 3?

AyeAmarok · 02/05/2015 20:14

Hi Nicola,

Lovely to see you here. Smile

It's great to see a 'normal' woman at the top of politics through ability/merit and to have someone who isn't completely disconnected from a 'normal' life and upbringing.

I am an undecided voter in this election. I was a No Thanks voter. Aside from independence, I do agree with a lot of the SNP's policies and would like to see you have more clout in Westminster. However, the one thing that holds me back from voting SNP is that if it ultimately led to another Referendum, or Independence, I could never forgive myself. Can you please give your word you will not pursue that again for a generation, as you said was the case last year? It can't be "once in a generation, unless we lose", it's too detrimental for Scotland's stability.

Although it's starting to feel like the other 'main' parties are trying to lock the SNP out of Westminster the way you want to lock the Tories out. Which is shocking, Scotland is a significant part of the UK and, democratically, our voice should be heard.

AyeAmarok · 02/05/2015 20:18

Ps, I also love your shoe choices recently.

cookiefiend · 02/05/2015 20:46

I think it right that the people of Scotland had a chance to decide their future last year, but am reluctant to vote SNP for the general election because I do not feel we should keep having referenda until there is a yes vote. It is expensive and distracting for government. It was also quite divisive.

Do you not feel the SNP should get on with governing for a while and leave another referendum for at least another ten years or so- see what the next generation thinks?

frankie80 · 03/05/2015 08:01

I know this is another question, sorry.

It annoys me when I see you on election posters and speaking on behalf of the SNP when you aren't standing for election. The election isn't about you, but you are making it that way.

your election posters should be about the snp, your debates should have a westminster candidate debating. It is very egotistical of you to have your image everywhere. Surely your campaign should be about more than you?!

lostinikea · 03/05/2015 18:00

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

whattheseithakasmean · 03/05/2015 18:08

How do you justify the disaster that is the Curriculum for Excellence and the fall in children's literacy in the time SNP has been in power in Holyrood?

Was it right to slash college places to fund wealthy children's university tuition? Those 'part time short courses' that you were so happy to cut were an important route back into society for many of the most disadvantaged and furthest from education.

What do you think of Henry McLeish's performance on behalf of Glasgow college students - your Cabinet Secretary appointed him to that paid directorship.

LineRunner · 03/05/2015 18:11

Will you commit to making it possible for all women who live in Scotland, including the 'remoter' regions of Scotland (highlands and islands), to access early free NHS abortions, without them being deterred by the travel costs and other impediments? Thank you.

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StaceyAndTracey · 03/05/2015 19:08

Line runner - women on low incomes and in receipt of certain benefits can already get help with the cost of travel to hospital

LineRunner · 03/05/2015 19:17

Stacey, I appreciate that, but the delay - and the disincentive - involved in being means-tested (along with the worry about loss of privacy) for a 15 year old or a SAHM or other girls and women in particular circumstances is concerning.

RubbishRobotFromTheDawnOfTime · 03/05/2015 21:40

I agree with what frankie80 says and would like to hear the answer to her question.

Nicola, you say that we should all vote SNP so that our MPs can get the best for Scotland at Westminster. Do you believe that Scotland is currently getting a worse deal than the rest of the UK, and that our current Scottish MPs (from whichever party) are not properly representing their constituencies?

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