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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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EU Referendum: Webchat with Alan Johnson MP, Tuesday 24 May at 12.30pm

95 replies

BojanaMumsnet · 20/05/2016 15:21

Hello

We’re very pleased to announce a webchat with Alan Johnson MP on Tuesday 24 May at 12.30pm. Alan is the Chair of the official ‘Labour In for Britain’ campaign, aiming to persuade voters to keep the UK in the EU.

Alan entered Parliament as Labour MP for Hull West and Hessle in 1997 and filled a wide variety of cabinet positions in both the Blair and Brown governments, including Health Secretary, Home Secretary and Education Secretary. He has also published two award-winning memoirs, ‘This Boy’ and ‘Please Mr Postman’.

Please do join the chat on Tuesday, or if you can’t make it, please leave a question here in advance. And do bear in mind the webchat guidelines - one question each only (follow-ups allowed if there’s time) and please do be polite.

The EU referendum will be held on 23 June (and yes, we are doing our utmost to line up some ‘Out’ campaigners for webchats too!)

Thanks
MNHQ

EU Referendum: Webchat with Alan Johnson MP, Tuesday 24 May at 12.30pm
changeznameza · 20/05/2016 17:46

Omg can you just tell him I love him Grin

And I will be voting IN and I would like to thank him for being the best politician! Not to mention the most handsome. Can't wait for the webchat

DurhamDurham · 20/05/2016 18:14

Oh I've always liked Alan Smile
He just seems so genuine and human......with a lovely air about him.......and twinkly eyes........but anyway, I digress Grin

WhirlwindHugs · 20/05/2016 18:49

I'vebeen enjoying the labour in campaign, really heartening to see so many unions etc supporting unity in Europe.

Question: do you find it frustrating when you debate an issue with someone and they don't listen to what you've said but just repeat/rephrase their point of view? How would you respond in that situation?

SpringingIntoAction · 20/05/2016 19:23

Hello Alan

Why is labour supporting a campaign that is funded in part by Goldman Sachs, JO Morgan, Citigroup, hedge funds and big corporations who don't seem to be the natural allies of the working man or Left-wing voters in general?

howtorebuild · 20/05/2016 19:47

I would have loved Alan to have run for Labour leader.

Alan, during canvassing for Labour at the local elections, our members are split on the EU. Some were not keen to to tell me why. It turned out they were scared. There were genuine concerns about terrorism and mostly about competition for low paid and low skilled employment leaving them in hardship. Regardless of the EU outcome, I believe we will remain, the party really needs to address this.

The clash isn't about racism, it's about cultural clash issues (for example my Polish neighbours didn't issue a party wall notice or agreement and worked 7 days a week for months 8am to 10pm, not nice in a semi when they chisel off every piece of plaster in the house and it effects your health) and competition.

I had to work hard with Google translate to help them understand about a dozen incidents in 9 months of their environmental nuisances, criminal and civil illegal activity. Had I wanted to I could have got them in a lot of trouble, instead I helped them understand the law. My neighbours are nice people, they were unprepared for a different culture and laws.

There have been tears in our CLP over anti polish racist graffiti. I really wish there was something in place for people to understand the cultural and legal differences when the move to another country and to deal with overcrowding in houses. It would help everyone on a personal level and reduce public service pressure.

I will probably be called racist now, for recounting my experience, if so fair enough you have your opinion.

Limer · 21/05/2016 00:10

I have family in Hull and think very highly of Alan Johnson. I've read both his memoir books.

Sadly I'll be working when the web chat is live, but I'd like to ask Alan how the Labour party can support Remain? Thousands of Brits are thrown into the underclass scrapheap because EU migrants are prepared to accept lower wages and worse working conditions. Alan's book "Please Mr Postman" has chapter after (endless) chapter about union negotiations he's made and won, to improve working conditions for UK postmen back in the Seventies - but now he's prepared to chuck all that away?

Alan went on strike to win better working conditions for postmen. Nowadays, anyone going on strike (or even admitting to belonging to a trade union) would be dismissed and replaced without an eyelid being batted. And the Labour party is behind this? Surely they realise that if labour is unlimited, the bosses are laughing all the way to the bank?

AnnaForbes · 21/05/2016 00:40

Alan, you accuse Brexiters of demeaning the Referendum debate by throwing threats and ridiculous terms around. Do you not think the remain campaign's Project Fear with its endless array of amorphous scare stories about has been more demeaning, not only on this issue but for political debate in general?

ipsogenix · 21/05/2016 07:46

I'm an (Scottish) economic migrant living in England. I've give my eye teeth to go home and live near family. Please can you ask Alan why the UK and EU governments are not doing more to make employment opportunities in places other than the south of England? There are too many of us here, and we do put more pressure on the NHS, schools and houses. Well I do anyway.

lostindevon · 21/05/2016 10:01

Place marking

OTheHugeManatee · 21/05/2016 15:57

Alan, how can you support the EU when you have seen the devastation its austerity-obsessed and inhuman policies are wreaking throughout the southern Med? How can you believe the EU's interests are aligned with those of ordinary working people when its institutions magnify the voices of bankers and corporate lobbyists and intentionally marginalise those of ordinary people by chipping away at democratic accountability?

BornFreeButinEUchains · 21/05/2016 19:22

www.spectator.co.uk/2016/02/jeremy-corbyn-is-the-out-campaigns-secret-weapon/


"The ‘out’ campaign offers a simple explanation for the left’s lethargy: in their hearts Corbyn, Unite and the rest do not want us to stay in the EU. As one Vote Leave spokesman said, ‘It’s extremely sad to see that Jeremy, who is for all his faults a conviction politician and a lifelong opponent of the EU, has been gagged by the clapped-out Blairites rejected in the Labour leadership contest."

SpringingIntoAction · 21/05/2016 19:40

Corbyn noticeably says 'The Labour position is to REMAIN. He never says I (Corbyn) recommend REMAIN.

Perhaps he has been gagged by the Blairites, but he's stupid if he has allowed this.

Party popularity rises and falls - one day the SNP support will decline, one day (soon) the Tory support will drastically decline and Labour may find themselves electable again - but an election victory would then be pointless as the EU would have eroded the power of the UK government to that of a Parish Council (a time Ken Clarke famously said he looked forward to).

MrsWembley · 21/05/2016 19:42

Placemarking really, as I'm still undecided, and it would be very useful to hear a Labour PoV for remaining, especially in light of the earlier comments about the flooding of the jobs market with cheap labour and the rush of Big Business to clamour for Staying In...

BtW, Alan, I'm not a Labour voter, never will be, but I'm very open to hear your thoughts. You've always struck me as Not An Idiot and are therefore someone I will happily consider the views of.

BritBrit · 22/05/2016 05:14

Perhaps someone could ask him why they keep saying leaving the EU would end worker rights (a lie) when most of those rights predate the UK joining the EU e.g Holiday Pay 1938, Equal Pay 1970 & why Labour would not continue these rights after Brexit

A4Document · 22/05/2016 11:18

Is Britain capable of being a great country without the EU?

Littleconfettiblue · 23/05/2016 10:58

What are the consequences for Jeremy Corbyn's leadership the outcome of the referendum is to leave the EU?

I don't want him to leave!

Dancinghorse5 · 23/05/2016 14:17

I have been seriously put off voting for the remain side because of the ridiculous " over the top " claims of Armageddon if we should have the temerity to vote to leave . PLEASE Cameron , don't treat us like idiots !

macska · 23/05/2016 21:40

How can Cameron be an effective leader of the Remain campaign? He's spent most of the last six years telling us how the EU is in need of reform, whilst failing to clear up the common misconceptions about "EU scroungers" and such like.

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Vote UK Forum vote-2012.proboards.com/

romanrainsalot · 23/05/2016 21:58

I'm with Dancinghorse5 on this one. I am sick of the doooooom message from Cameron & co. It gets more ridiculous by the day. The price of broccoli will quadruple if we leave EU!

Dear Alan

I'd like to hear some of the positive things that could happen if we remain in the EU - what are the upcoming issues the EU will be debating that could make a difference to our lives?

ginghambox · 23/05/2016 23:53

Alan you are one of the very few Labour politicians I have any time for but can you tell me the date of the plague of locusts after Brexit so I don't need to put the washing out.

DoctorTwo · 24/05/2016 04:39

Hello Alan, how lovely of you to speak to us. I see that Cameron and George 'The Gidiot' Osborne are warning of a "year long recession of our own making" if we leave the EU. Would a short period of economic turmoil be preferable to a permanent state of recession such as is being forced on Greece, Spain, Portugal, Italy, France, Ireland etc by EU mandated austerity and the insistence of the banking sector that we pay for their criminal behavior mistakes?

sandgrown · 24/05/2016 07:53

Hello Alan . Can I first say how much I enjoyed your books. If we vote to stay in the EU will politicians still fight for concessions for Britain? I think many people are worried about the loss of control and that as the EU increases in size it will be harder for Britain to have any influence. If we believe what is written in the media many more migrants will be heading for Britain. If that is true what is it that we have here that is so special and should we fight to protect it ?

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Chippednailvarnishing · 24/05/2016 09:21

Hi Alan,
I’m very torn on the EU question as the majority of people where I live are employed in Financial Services, which will no doubt suffer if we choose to leave.

However given the state of certain economies in the EU such as Spain and Portugal, how can we carry on being members of the EU but also ensure that we aren’t going to have to bail other failing economies out in the future?

user1464038319 · 24/05/2016 11:20

As an EU lawyer I experience the EU directives and debate daily. The EU is currently moving to remove zero rating of VAT across all EU states. The UK enjoys the highest number of zero rated goods and services including most FOOD STUFFS, CHILDREN'S CLOTHES, BOOKS. At a time when we are faced with communities having to resort to food banks because they can't afford to buy food, when we are trying to increase literacy among children can you justify adding 20% VAT to FOOD, CHILDREN'S CLOTHES, & BOOKS? Frankly this is just one of the reasons despite being an EU lawyer I will be voting to leave - I care more for my people than my job shame our politicians don't think the same way.

MegCleary · 24/05/2016 11:40

Staunch in voter here. I am so disappointed in the level of debate and scaremongering on both sides. Is there any way he can think of to raise the level of debate?

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