UK MNer: Let's talk politics - please complete our survey to share your views: you could win a £50 voucher SURVEY NOW CLOSED

[AnnMumsnet]

One issue that comes up over and again on Mumsnet is the political culture of Westminster: debate has raged over everything from the number of women in the cabinet to the playground atmosphere of Prime Minister’s Questions (PMQs). So we thought it’d be interesting to delve a bit deeper into Mumsnetters’ views on these topics.

This survey is open to all Mumsnet users. Whether you follow all the action at Westminster or struggle to name a cabinet minister - please complete this short survey! It's important we get the views of all MNers.

As a thank you, all respondents (who leave their details at the end) will be entered into a prize draw in which one MNer will win a £50 voucher for the store of their choice.

Here's the link again: www.surveymonkey.com/s/NSTNM3V

Thanks and good luck
MNHQ

[LEMmingaround]

ooooh - i honestly don't know the names of any cabinet ministers, but you said it was ok so i'll give it a bash. Thanks x

[AnnMumsnet]

Options for don't know on all Qs LEM

[HoopyViper]

Done!

[DoctorTwo]

Done.

[AnnieLobeseder]

Oooh, I had a lovely rant. It self good. No chance of anyone listening though

[AnnieLobeseder]

self good? felt good, obviously.

[Uptheairymountain]

Interesting survey .

[JustSquirted]

No mention of the Northern Ireland assembly though. That's a devolved administration.

[Kleptronic]

You missed a bit out of your OP. 'It is important we get the views of all MNetters'...because?

What will you be using this survey for?

[Spiritedwolf]

Done. But it in the bit about advantageous qualities to be a politician, I wasn't sure whether you meant what ought to be, or what appears to be from the 'successful' politicians we see on the government front bench. I might have been more definite in my answers had I known what you meant.

For example, being male ought not to be an advantage, many of the politicians I admire are female, but clearly men seem to have an advantage in terms of getting elected and getting the top positions, even though I think that's wrong and that it doesn't make them good politicians.

The survey was the first I'd heard of the recommendations to 'improve' PMQs so I don't know the full detail, but it sounds in danger of making it even more of a bear pit than it already is!

Certainly making it in the evening will not help to make the hours of parliament more family friendly for potential MPs with caring responsibilities. As more women tend to have these, it is a barrier to greater female participation.

The hours at Holyrood (and the shorter distances involved) are more suited to politicians with caring responsibilities. I think that there should be an attempt to emulate them at Westminster.

[Jcee]

I agree with what spirited said about q10 - I can see what appears to be advantageous to be a politician and what it should be and wasn't sure what you were looking for.

what will you use survey results for?

[Jux]

What spirited said about q10. For the record, I answered for what appears to be advantageous now, rather than what ought to be.

[QuietNinjaTardis]

Yep I answered the same way as jux, wish I'd been able to answer what I would like to be advantageous and not what is but the answers would be too different.

[ChronicChronicles]

It should have been clearer whether they meant should be or are now. I answered are now.

[CalamitouslyWrong]

I was a bit frustrated with the survey because there was no place to say that I think that the devolved parliament/assembly in Scotland and Wales do a much better job than Westminster. I am actually ashamed of Westminster and think it presents the worst possible image of Britain to everyone (at home and abroad).

[CalamitouslyWrong]

And I'd also liked to have been able to say on the survey how embarrassed I am that a suggested improvement to PMQs is a 'sin bin' for MPs who cannot conduct themselves in an appropriate manner. WTF?

[Solopower1]

Done, but no space to say how unfair, ill-informed and unrepresentative some of the political decisions that are taken by our elected representatives are.

Still I suppose the survey is just about the process, and not the outcomes ...

What's the survey for, Mumsnet?

[boys3]

same concern on Q10 -what's advantageous - as previous posters. I also answered as to what I perceive as currently advantageous, as opposed to what should be advantageous. I certainly would have answered it very differently if it was the latter.

[CalamitouslyWrong]

I answered as currently advantageous too, not what would be desirable in a halfway decent system.

[KateBeckett]

Re question 10, I also answered as to what I thought was currently advantagegeous!

[ItStillLooksLikeRainDear]

Done

[OTheHugeManatee]

Done, but I found the survey a bit strange and full of leading questions. All a bit 'Just how hostile to women do you think Westminster is: a) very hostile, b) extremely hostile, c) a fucking warzone'

Also I was a bit that there was such a focus on PMQs when there are far more interesting contemporary issues to debate: the proper extent of the welfare state, national sovereignty vs EU membership etc. It just seemed a bit fluffy, as though you're going to go away and compile the results then go and tell Westminster 'The ladies of Mumsnet couldn't care less about actual political issues but they all think you're a big bunch of meanies with your shouting and ruthlessness'. Which is of course bollocks, but could be inferred from the way the survey has been structured.

[KatieMumsnet]

Hi All

Thanks so much for answering the survey so far and for the rants. Just to respond the questions:

The idea for this survey came from the work we did with Mori last year. Lots of people commented on not liking the atmosphere of parliament and PMQs and so we thought it might be interesting to find out a bit more about those views. The idea is to then to compile these survey results and share on site and with the wider media. OTheHugeManatee, v good point - and we'll try to avoid falling into that trap. As we get closer to the general election we'll do much more on wider political issues and policies too.

Yes in question 10 we do want to know what is currently thought to be an advantageous characteristics, not what should be an advantageous characteristic.

Hope that helps - do shout if you have other queries.


K

[CalamitouslyWrong]

The problem with PMQs isn't so much that it's shouty but that the so-called pinnacle of political debate in this country is two men trading petty insults (often personal ones) and making nasty jokes about the other while the rest of parliament boos and cheers behind them. We may as well get some preschoolers to call each other poo-heads and be done with it. It's the same quality of debate.

It's a weekly showcase to the world of the things about British politics we should be most ashamed of. I always hear clips on radio 4 and wonder if the rest of the world thinks we're actually incapable of having a reasonable or rational debate with real evidence and such like.

[siiiiiiiiigh]

Oh, good. I luffs politics, me. I'd just put David Dimbleby in charge, I like him.