AIBU to wonder if a stay-at-home mum could become an MP?

Tax cuts for families with SAHMs? What about those with SAHDs? Although you sometimes use the term 'SAHP', it's clear you mean families like yours; those with SAHMs.
As a full time working, high earning mum with a SAHD husband the inconsistency in your terminology alone would make me feel you wouldn't be a good choice to represent what I consider important, despite how similar our family set ups are.
I think you need to get a lot better at politician speak to get support, and focus on wider scope of issues that are important to your local community, not just you and your SAHM friends.

You’d need to get involved in your community, and show a genuine desire to improve things locally. I have been involved in local politics for over a decade, have ran in marginal seats and lost even though I’d secured considerable funding (all
voluntarily). Campaigning is tough but actually really fun and interesting. I am not trying to put you off but it’s about representing all communities so you can’t really have your own agenda. I think if you feel the urge then definitely explore it. Are you a member of a political party, as you have to be a member for a certain amount of time before you can stand. I don’t think your lack of experience is a barrier as long as you show you’ve done something locally, join local residents groups, litter picks, community meetings etc. I am talking about being a councillor though as that’s the best path for where you are imo.

It's difficult to take better precautions when you're raped.
And how are women supposed to ensure their husbands abstain given how recently marital rape was legal?

I don’t understand how you will make this work whilst still raising your children in a way that is acceptable to you?

You are only 30 so your kids are presumably still pretty young. But you want to get a job that typically involves a 60 to 80 hour a week workload and seriously unsocial hours and large amounts of travel. (Where do you live? It is obviously easier to be an MP from a travel perspective if you live in Luton than if you live in Newquay.)

Will your husband give up work? Is he ok with this? Can you afford to live in an MPs salary? C£99k so not low but you mentioned that your husband is a high earner so maybe still a big cut for you. Are you ok with the idea of being a very hands off parent?

Yeah go for it op and see what happens. What do you have to lose (aside from the whole SAHM thing).

Keep us updated on your journey won't you?

Don't underestimate bathe amount of work that councilors do. It's exhausting and very time consuming for very little reward however if yuh have that commitment you can do anything. You will need good childcare though as there are numerous meetings and visits per week

Maybe for some not very active councillors, but several committees (those where the public can be involved, like planning) sit during the evenings, so the public can take part. It wouldn’t fit round school hours either, as you don’t have flexibility about when meetings take place.

Yes but it's a very intensive job so unlikely that SAHMs with small kids would choose to try to become an MP if they have chosen not to work. The campaigning beforehand is also a full time job. A councillor would be more compatible with family life.

To answer your original question, I actually think SAHMs should be represented in politics. However, I do think part of the reason they are not is because of how unforgiving the job is. I was a staffer early in my career and my MP slept maximum 4 nights a week in the family home and worked minimum 6 days a week. He never had a moment to pause and missed seeing his kids a lot. He lived in the constituency and people would just approach all the time about things, walking from his house to the corner shop would probably involve at least 2 casework interactions. There is no turning off and when they finally do get a holiday the newspapers will report on any destination deemed too exotic 🤣

To answer the rest of your thread, agree for more parental leave, the rest of it is bonkers and it would serve society best not to stand.

I would vote for a SAHM if my party put one up. Her being a SAHM would probably have little/no bearing on me voting for her though. If she had good community links that would help.

I definitely wouldn’t vote for you, but an MP/perspective MP of my part was a SAHM I wouldn’t really care either way and she would probably get my vote.

As long as you appeal tI what people want to vote for you’ll be fine- good ideas, wanting progress, head not in the sand. Best of luck!

Whilst I don't agree with many of OP's views I think they have some validity and she articulates them well. I hope that she does pursue her idea of becoming an elected representative, Reform could do with some 30-something women so that would be a good place to start.

I haven't read the full thread but have read all of OP's replies.

@Questionsssss you said your only work experiences was a few years (5?) in publishing, which is usually an incredibly liberal/progressive environment, so the opposite of your politics. So I'm curious if you had these views while you were working in publishing, and if yes what was that like? Did you hide all your opinions from your colleagues? Or did you develop your views after having children?

@Jane379 the OP referred to SAHM (not SAHP) - clearly only someone with a penis should be earning money!

Yes, they have, but they’ve worked their way up through volunteering, local council stuff etc.

I wouldn’t vote for you, Op.
I can’t be doing with misogyny
@Questionsssss

Most families need two incomes nowadays … so yes, likely be penalising someone.

.....had successfully run a huge and very publicised campaign to save a much loved local facility. As a result I was very well known locally. Following the successful conclusion of the campaign all the three main parties approached me to ask me to stand for them.

That's more or less what happened to a friend of mine. She was much involved with a residents' group campaigning about a local traffic issue and was approached by all three parties to stand for the local council. She chose the one best aligned to her opinions on local issues, but said that was not necessarily the party she would vote for in a general election.

Absolutely. My 20 week scan showed significant brain abnormalities. Follow up scan with a consultant 21 weeks. Foetal MRI at 23 weeks. Results back after 24 weeks resulting in suggestion we consider whether to proceed with the pregnancy.

We continued based on our own beliefs, but feel that every parent in our position should be able to make the decision they feel best for them. It was without doubt the most traumatic time we have been through making that decision, and no one should have to also consider the legality of their decision as part of this.

I think in countries where the limot is lower, rape victims have a higher limit. At least I hope so. OP, what are your views on this?

Ideally of course abortion could be accessed as early as possible, but there can be situations like abusive relationships where this would be a barrier.

The OP hasn’t got a clue about how any of this would be funded. Or any evidence that it would lead to better outcomes anyway.

I suspect there’s a lot of bullshit in what the OP is saying. Seems likely she just doesn’t want to work so is trying to justify her choice and get paid for it! I also question whether she worked in publishing for 5 years based on her grammar….

No, but given you apparently have a diagnosis of ADHD yourself your personal disinterest is interesting.

Several auto immune conditions
Fibromyalgia
POTS
Elhlers Danlos syndrome…….

You have a lot of time for someone so dedicated to her children. And internet access - can’t you google?

Au contraire. It depends which question you ask as to what the results are. Plenty of studies showing the benefits to children of having working mothers.

Beware cognitive bias.