Labour leadership hustings - on Mumsnet!

Edam, you make a very good point.

My father, a Tory supporter and someone who deals with PFI as part of his job, used to say the Conservatives would never have got away with some of the r-wing decisions of Blair's govt made and my FIL,an ardent Labour supporter, used to tie himself in knots trying to justify it to his socialist self.

How would you build fairness into 'Free school meals' (and other child related benefits)?. A single parent with one child earning below 16K qualifies. A 2 parent family with 4 kids earning just (only just!), over 16K, does not qualify!

What do you think the Labour party actually stands for these days?

And do you regret pursuing so many Tory policies when you were in power - PFI, slavish attitude to the City, contracting out public services etc. etc. etc?

What is your policy on immigration? Do you connect Labour's failure to address this political hot-potato to the rise of the BNP's vote, especially in the council elections?

"Why does a Labour Government always leave the country in a worse financial mess than the Conservatives?" and
"Will we EVER be able to trust a Labour government not to overspend our money and get us in to catastrophic debt that we then have to rely on the Conservatives to get us out of?"

That's my questions...

Germany's economy has grown by an unexpected 2.2% for the last quarter. What did they do differently over the last 10 yrs to enable them to weather the global recession more successfully than GB?

I would like to ask D Abbot is she really thinks she can win given she upset sooooo many people when she sent her son to private school.

I would also like to know why all of those in the running have been to Oxford or Cambridge. What is it about these univerities that breeds politicians and what would they suggest to encourage more ordinary people into politics to give a bit of variety.

Do you think that 50% is the highest personal income tax rate that should be applied?

Or would you support higher, and possibly broader, taxation bands for high-earners, to support the welfare state?

Are you happy with the standard of school and university education in this country after a long period of labout government? If not, what would you still want to change?

What are the top 5 new policies that you would implement today if you were the Prime Minister?

Good question ladyblablah. This was essentially what I was trying to get at, but in a less articulate way. I want to know what kind of person they are, rather than what they think about x and x policies.

Agree about biscuits BTW

The joke has passed

I am very left wing, but none of this lot inspire me. I'm just not interested in their answers; I saw the thread yesterday and have been thinking about questions.......but I don't want to know anything from them......

So, maybe my question is "Is apathy a worry for all of them? How do they respond to the criticism that there is a lack of character amongst the candidates and they are simply career politicians, always in control and totally lacking in any passion? What have they done in their past which gives them the necessary experience to run the Labour party / the country? Basically (in the style of Nicky from BB - yes I used to watch) Who are they?

How will the Labour party ensure people see all the good that was achieved (including massive steps forward in education Rollmops), sure start, children's playground projects etc etc etc, under the previous govenment? How could you communicate this better to people adn ensure a Conservative govenment stays out?

What would the party do for young people leaving Uni (who don't have parents rich enough to pay off debts), to ensure they have a proper future, with a job, and a home of their own?

Where is the environment on your priority list? What do you think is the best strategy to resist climate change?

"So please only post here a question for all five candidates."

Oh alright then! Do ANY of the candidates think it's appropriate for a labour mp to send their offspring to a fee-paying school?

How are you going to square making the party electable again with keeping your supporters on side. New Labour lost me, and lots of my family and friends, but we never really found anywhere else to go so had to stick around grumbling about it all. I want to feel happy (on the whole) with the party I support, rather than just feeling you are the least bad option.

Right then, are you, as representative of 13 years of Labour government, not ashamed for ruining the state education system?

Must sting quite a bit that the official policy of 'keep 'em dumb and thrust bread (welfare state) and circuses (above mentioned lap-dancing clubs etc) upon 'em and they shall deliver their votes...' didn't work this time?

What do you think of the 48hour working time directive? will we change in line with Europe?

In my contract I sign to opt out of this and regularly work a minimum 50+ hour week. I really wish it was less