... to ask you all for a brilliant question to put forward on BBC QT tomorrow so I'll definitely get on the telly?

[goldwrapped]

They gave me a phone interview today and basically said my question wasn't topical enough & I should think of another one.
Feeling like this is such an opportunity but I'm a bit brain dead after surgery last week so please can you lovely MNetters help me out?
Panel is to consist of:
Justine Greening MP, Conservative, Education Secretary;
John McDonnell MP, Labour, Shadow Chancellor;
Joanna Cherry MP, SNP, Justice & Home Affairs Spokesperson;
Alistair Campbell, Broadcaster and former Director of Communications for Tony Blair and
Quentin Letts, Journalist & Parliamentary Sketch Writer for the Daily Mail
Think in particular we could collectively find something amusing to ask Mr Letts?
Thanks in advance

[ilovesooty]

You could ask about the potential effect of the boundary changes. I think Justine Greening might be at risk in her seat and Jeremy Corbyn's seat is set to disappear.

[LineyReborn]

Justine Greening apparently has overruled her predecessor. There will now be places for parent governors on Governing Bodies. I'd ask about whether the panel agreed with the U-turn.

If you get a follow up, it should be simple: so how did the government ever allow this to happen (that parents were being bumped of school boards in favour of business directors?)

[LineyReborn]

off

Ffs

[RipMacWinkle]

You could ask Alistair Campbell how close to the truth Peter Capaldi's character in "The thick of it" was? Wasn't it rumoured it was based on him.

[goldwrapped]

Fantastic, perfect question. Thank you so much. I've been zonked the past week & not kept up with the news, for the first time in my adult life! I didn't know Justine's seat was at risk, but I do now ...

[Ego147]

How does a grammar school education help the vast majority of children who won't ever pass the selection test to get in?

[monkeysox]

Education.
If grammars are introduced and all academically weaker students are all together how do they propose to achieve success for the lower tier?
Schools in poor areas with little parental support are struggling to recruit qualified teachers now. What would they do to address this especially now that teacher training courses attract huge fees!?

Why do they think it is acceptable to fill the teacher gap with wet behind the ears graduates who have only had six weeks of training before being thrown in at the deep end?

Hth

[MegCleary]

Ask Alastair Campbell which party he'll support when labour splits.

[ABloodyDifficultWoman]

I would SO love to ask Alistair Campbell that question - I suspect the answer is 'very close'

[Ego147]

As an aside - you get a phone interview to be on the audience

[goldwrapped]

liney brilliant. rip I'd heard that too ... could be good for a chuckle...

[birdsdestiny]

Could you ask Alistair Campbell what PR advice he would give Jeremy Cornyn.

[Ego147]

Quentin Letts (and general)

What role does the media have in the way girls are seen by boys and treated by them?

(links to a recent report on harassment in schools)

[goldwrapped]

birds I think I actually love you....

[queenofthemountains]

Why is it called a grammar school system when it should be called a secondary modern system as most children will end up in one. Not good enough I know but something I'd like to know the answer to.

[IamtheZombie]

It's really too early to decide on a question. What's topical today may be fish and chip paper by tomorrow.

Read the news carefully tomorrow. Don't go for questions on the top 2 stories as that's what most people do. Concentrate on finding something in story 3 or 4 that will catch their attention.

My late husband used this method on the several occasions he was in the audience and he was chosen every time.

[elephantoverthehill]

When I was in the QT audience, many years ago, we wrote the questions down on a slip of paper. The Grammar school question will come up, but what about a Helen/Archers question or a GBBO question for levity.

[LineyReborn]

Other very topical stuff: privatisation gone bad.

Concentrix fucking up Tax Credit claims.

Capita fucking up patient records for GPs.

Will the government still be pushing ahead with the privatisation of essential public services such as the NHS given that there have been so many failings recently revealed, which disproportionately affect women and children, whilst benefiting mainly privileged shareholders?

[birdsdestiny]

But make sure you say corbyn not cornyn or people will think you are really weird 😀

[Ego147]

Are you going to wear something distinctive so Dimbleby can say 'yes, you the lady with the pink scarf' or something like that?

Or say something completely outrageous that will get you in the paper the next day?

And don't forget Twitter. You might be on there.

[Room101isWhereIUsedToLive]

Ask the political folk how they feel about being democratic representatives in a system which doesn't actually meet the criteria for democracy.

[Mouikey]

This is topical... Is it reasonable that the BBC offered such a significant amount of money for the GBBO? And who should be the new hosts???

[LineyReborn]

You! the lady in the lime green kaftan....

[goldwrapped]

Oh I'm so glad I asked you. I knew you'd be amazing.
The educational/grammar school questions are very topical-I'm going with my daughter who is attending one ... Love the GBBO ones but birds still has the trophy...
I like your advice, thank you Zombie. As for picking me out Ego I will be 'the washed out old hag who hasn't seen daylight for a week'!
I'll give you all a wave

[RipMacWinkle]

Will you have a gold accessory on per your username? Is that our clue? Now our mission.... to track you