MNHQ Group 3

As far as managing our budget, the leaders would be witness to what happens when the main breadwinner is made redundant while raising two small children. Four years into a recession that likely has not affected their own personal budgets one iota I'm sure they could all head tilt in sympathy and congratulate us on our efforts for me to become the main earner while DH's industry is non existent.Just what does a person do after 7 years to become an architect? Oh yes, crumble in a state of depression! They'd also congratulate our industriousness with starting a small business. However they'd soon realise how fucking futile it all is when you can't get a bank loan to expand said business, or to see that progression in my nhs job is limited by pay freezes and restructuring.
The maths which I'm sure they would do with their bastarding little calculators would demonstrate that it isn't worth DH working in his full time lowly paid retail job while working all evenings on his business start up due to the childcare costs associated with two full time working parents on crappy salaries.

How would they cope? Well they'll never have to will they. I expect they too would find the daily struggle to tread water would wear them down eventually. And they would wonder how we keep smiling for the kids because I'm not sure they could.

What problems would they encounter? Well there's two full time salaries and a business set up and childcare for two, the rent and mortgage for our housing association place with questionable neighbours and other normal bills (no holidays, no sky tv, shitty car, second hand clothes) er, there's no fucking money people.That's the problem you'll encounter. Good luck!

Sorry, I vanished.
As far as the issues faced by women, I don't think any of the parties have a focus on this. If they did however I'd be more likely to vote for them.
However the nitty gritty of that is the difficulty of catering to many different types of women in britain.

I wouldn't currently trust any party to be interested in representing women.

The issues that affect me personally as a woman is employment, childcare, the nhs, healthcare and equality in the workplace.

How well or badly do you think the party leaders could manage your household finances effectively?
I would hope all the party leaders could manage on my family budget.

Imagine the party leaders had to live on your family budget, which do you think would cope best/worst? Why? What problems would they encounter?
Our budget is adequate for our family so I would hope that they could all cope but it's unrealistic as their budget is way, way above anything I could ever hope to have so although temporarily there would be no problem in managing, long term no doubt they would all struggle to adjust expectations.

1. So, these days how well or badly do you think the current main party leaders are doing on understanding the issues and concerned facing women like you.
   First of all David Cameron?
   Instinctively, don't like him. Child benefit cuts, dla cuts, benefits, childcare vouchers all make me angry although many of them don't directly affect me. He says what should be right but I have little trust
   And then Nick Clegg?
   Liberal democrats have a history of strong women in posts for being the right person for the job
   And then Ed Miliband?
   SOrry, no nothing on him.
   What about another party leader you know of (or one you think should/ could be a party leader) - please name them and then say: how well or badly do they do on this aspect?

2. and how well or badly do you think they make sure or take account of women being heard in their party and in politics generally?
   First of all David Cameron? And then Nick Clegg?
   And then Ed Miliband?
   What about another party leader you know of (or one you think should/ could be a party leader) - please name them and then say: how well or badly do they do on this aspect?
   Not sure that any of them are much good but nick clegg gives me most hope.

3. Finally for now - which party - if any - do you trust the most to look after the interests of women? Why? And which do you trust the least? And why?
   Lib dems give me hope but under the current government, they are never going to be able to be anything other than in the shadows.

How well or badly do you think the party leaders could manage your household finances effectively?
I would imagine all the party leaders could manage household finances effectively. Its just basic budgeting.

Imagine the party leaders had to live on your family budget, which do you think would cope best/worst? Why? What problems would they encounter?
Our family budget is adequate for our family so I would expect them all to cope to some extent. However, they all live extremely privileged lives and I would think they would find it difficult at first, but they are all intelligent and I think they would just get on with it. Some of the things they take for granted would be out of their reach, but some of the things we used to take for granted are now out of our reach. People cope with changes in circumstance, its difficult, but you get used to a new normal, you don't have to like it, but you get on with it.

How well or badly do you think the party leaders could manage your household finances effectively?
Imagine the party leaders had to live on your family budget, which do you think would cope best/worst? Why? What problems would they encounter?

Ergh, this is such a puff piece question. Anyone can live on any budget for a day or two for 'fun'. I can't answer for these men, I have no idea. All I can do is try and think how they would perceive our budget and lifestyle against their policies.

I think my family is very privileged and comfortable. We have a good income, although not quite higher tax rate bracket. I am SAHM. We have our own house, two cars. We do budget carefully but it would not be hard for anyone to manage our finances. I think all parties would be in agreement that actually current policy must be working ok for us as we are comfortable. David Cameron would probably want me to be at work so he could get some more tax paid but this would make us not so comfortable. I hope Clegg and Miliband would support my right to be at home. I have no wish to be financially rewarded for it but I don't wish to be penalised for taking a few years out to be at home with my children.

I would probably answer very differently if I worked and had to pay for childcare. I can see this is a really stress and worry for working parents. I would hope the party leaders could see this and the strain it caused on the family budget.

So, these days how well or badly do you think the current main party leaders are doing on understanding the issues and concerned facing women like you
Who are woman like me? I can't speak for anyone but myself and would hate to think I only care about what happens to 'woman like me'. I care about issues that affect everyone. It is also hard to answer these questions when you consider that these privileged men probably don't spend much time worrying about issues that affect 'women like me', and other women.

First of all David Cameron?
I cannot not stand this man. He is happy to demonstrate publicly that he has little respect for women, and indeed is happy to champion policy to reflect that.

And then Nick Clegg?
He is more interested in furthering his own career.

And then Ed Miliband?
I genuinely don't know.

2) and how well or badly do you think they make sure or take account of women being heard in their party and in politics generally?
I get really riled that all parties make a song and dance about getting woman into power - all woman shortlists, for example - but have done nothing to consider why women aren't in power, what is stopping them.

First of all David Cameron?
Badly.

And then Nick Clegg?
And then Ed Miliband?
I don't know for these two

3) Finally for now - which party - if any - do you trust the most to look after the interests of women? Why? And which do you trust the least? And why?
I trust the Labour party the most, the Conservative party the least.

How well or badly do you think the party leaders could manage your household finances effectively?

In terms of managing my household finances, as opposed to living on my budget, then I would expect all 3 to be able to manage it very effectively. Managing a budget in principle should not be that difficult - taking the emotion out of the situation its just a question of crunching numbers and providing your income at least equals your expenditure then they should all manage it. In real life, actually living with the result is often very hard and making what should add up on paper, add up in real life can be a real challenge.

Imagine the party leaders had to live on your family budget, which do you think would cope best/worst? Why? What problems would they encounter?

David Cameron I feel woud fare worst, he appears to live a lifestyle which is a million miles away from mine (and mine is reasonably comfortable as far as I am concerned!). For some reason I don't feel that Ed Miliband would do too well either - he seems very well turned out and I suspect that what he spends on a single suit would equate to my entire months food budget - if not more.

Nick Clegg appears slightly more normal. He had his wife seem to operate well as working parents and I think they'd manage for a short time on my family budget. Not for long though - while we do afford everyday luxuries we don't have money left over for big budget holidays or flash cars and I think that even though Nick Clegg seems to live the more modest lifestyle of the 3 party leaders, it is still completely different to the normal lifestyle of even fairly comfortable 'normal' families.

This thread has made me realise how much I judge politicians by their appearance! I would not apply the same critieria to people I meet in real life so it is actually very unfair of me!

I'll mention Tim Farron again, I'd like to see him as Lib Dem party leader and he seems much more like a 'normal' person. I think he'd manage very well on my household budget.

How well or badly do you think the party leaders could manage your household finances effectively?

DC - depends on who he roped in to help him manage! It's not that hard to manage, expect he'd be ok if he kept an eye on it. The main problem is child care costs with me working part time and DD being 2 1/2 she costs around £700, sometimes more, a month. But I know that it's not forever, although my pessimistic side fully expects the free 15 hours to be cancelled just as soon as DD turns 3.
NC - as above, but think he'd do better
EM - no idea. I know nothing about him, even whether he has children.

For all of them, the real problem is not having enough to save or to put into a pension. I could do more, but at the moment that would involve cuttting back on luxuries, nice clothes for DD and me, eating out etc, which I am not really minded to do.

Imagine the party leaders had to live on your family budget, which do you think would cope best/worst? Why? What problems would they encounter?

DC - I think would find it more of a struggle, we can't afford proper holidays at the moment thanks to having bought a new house but again hoping it won't last forever, but really our income is pretty decent - although these answers are rather meaningless without figures. I earn 21k, DH 53k, child benefit cut accordingly and no other benefits. 1 DD only, main costs mortgage and childcare. As above with childcare costs and savings. We have big costs with the new house, redecoration, replacing items etc. Can't see DC doing his own DIY though!
NC - should be fine
EM - no idea

Oh, ffs. The childcare tax advantage is back on the cards.
IF both of us work, AND you have more than 2 kids under 5, it looks like your better off, but if one of you works and claims childcare vouchers, or both of you work, but only have one child, your worse off.

Why oh why are they making things more complicated, and no better for most, and claiming it as an improvement???? Just make it transparent, easy to administer, and allow childcare to be affordable!

DC (and probably NC) just dont have a clue about the impact of childcare costs on a family budget, so, further to my answer above, DC and NC obviously don't understand family budgets, and the impact childcare costs have on the cash flow.

I would think DC or NC could probably manage on our budget. Possibly even EM could, but we are fortunate enough to have sufficient means to live on. I think all three take a rather higher-level view of things and would delegate the details.

I doubt any of them has much experience of living on a tight budget personally, but I am not sure that is particularly relevant to their ability to do their job. Despite all the talk and politics, I think that most of the financial running of the country is done by analysts, civil servants, the Bank of England, the bankers globally etc.

*How well or badly do you think the party leaders could manage your household finances effectively?

First of all David Cameron?
And then Nick Clegg?
And then Ed Miliband?
What about another party leader you know of (or one you think should/ could be a party leader) - please name them and then say: how well or badly do they do on this aspect?*

Cameron - clueless
Clegg - ditto
Miliband - probably do ok.

*Imagine the party leaders had to live on your family budget, which do you think would cope best/worst? Why? What problems would they encounter?

First of all David Cameron?
And then Nick Clegg?
And then Ed Miliband?
What about another party leader you know of (or one you think should/ could be a party leader) - please name them and then say: how well or badly do they do on this aspect?*

Our household budget is reasonably comfortable, as long as we are sensible, so I would expect them all to do ok, as long as they were prepared to embrace MoneySavingExpert etc. We can live reasonably as long as we shop around. I think they would be shocked that a middle income middle class family does not live as well as they would have say 20 years ago. Due to pay freezes, inflation, house prices etc.

1) So, these days how well or badly do you think the current main party leaders are doing on understanding the issues and concerned facing women like you.
First of all David Cameron?
And then Nick Clegg?
And then Ed Miliband?
What about another party leader you know of (or one you think should/ could be a party leader) - please name them and then say: how well or badly do they do on this aspect?

David Cameron's experience is about as far removed from most people's lives, I don't think he has any understanding of, for example, how to live on a budget etc.
Nick Clegg appears more grounded but is another with a well-upholstered lifestyle.
Miliband - don't know enough to comment.
Theresa May is probably the most plausible Tory leader-elect at present.

2) and how well or badly do you think they make sure or take account of women being heard in their party and in politics generally?
First of all David Cameron?
And then Nick Clegg?
And then Ed Miliband?
What about another party leader you know of (or one you think should/ could be a party leader) - please name them and then say: how well or badly do they do on this aspect?

They are all pretty much members of the 'boys club'.

3) Finally for now - which party - if any - do you trust the most to look after the interests of women? Why? And which do you trust the least? And why?

It seems counter-intuitive but probably the Tories. Plenty of strong women behind the men.

How well or badly do you think the party leaders could manage your household finances effectively?

First of all David Cameron?
And then Nick Clegg?
And then Ed Miliband?
What about another party leader you know of (or one you think should/ could be a party leader) - please name them and then say: how well or badly do they do on this aspect?

I dont think any of them could do it - once you get used to a certain standard of living I think its hard for them to manage to cope with much less, hence their ability to identify with the average diminishes the further from average they get. Cameron obviously is the furthest away.

Imagine the party leaders had to live on your family budget, which do you think would cope best/worst? Why? What problems would they encounter?

First of all David Cameron?
And then Nick Clegg?
And then Ed Miliband?
What about another party leader you know of (or one you think should/ could be a party leader) - please name them and then say: how well or badly do they do on this aspect?

hahahahahahahahahahaha

How well or badly do you think the party leaders could manage your household finances effectively?
Sorry, going to treat this all as one question, because I don't understand the difference between the questions really.
Imagine the party leaders had to live on your family budget, which do you think would cope best/worst? Why? What problems would they encounter?

Going to go in a slightly different order

Nick Clegg would spend all my money by Friday with nothing left for the weekend

Ed Miliband would spend all my money by Wednesday

David Cameron would blow all the money on a Friday night and go round his mum and dad's to get a loan while claiming it was quantitative easing.

Seriously though, they all have large family incomes, they might do fine for a week or two but I'm not sure that any of them could manage on my budget.

How well or badly do you think the party leaders could manage your household finances effectively?

I have visions of all of them getting the au pair to do it... sorry. I find it hard to believe any of them have ever had to consider something like that. Probably unfair, but they all seem to come from wealth. I don't know if that is actually the case though. I think Miliband would have a go, and Clegg would be very sincere and keep a lovely spreadsheet. DC would start out well and then blow any leftovers at Boden.

Imagine the party leaders had to live on your family budget, which do you think would cope best/worst? Why? What problems would they encounter?

All of them would probably struggle with having children at home 24/7 I suspect. My DH looks after the DCs at the weekend when I am at work and I am with them on weekdays. If we had to pay for outside childcare then the budget would be shot. Lack of time for themselves would be the hard bit, as it is for me. We do have enough to be able to shop at Waitrose and to not worry about counting every penny, but don't have foreign holidays or time away as a couple. They do all seem to like their holidays! I think Miliband and Clegg would be fine, Cameron seems a bit more highbrow in his tastes!

1) So, these days how well or badly do you think the current main party leaders are doing on understanding the issues and concerned facing women like you.
First of all David Cameron?
And then Nick Clegg?
And then Ed Miliband?
What about another party leader you know of (or one you think should/ could be a party leader) - please name them and then say: how well or badly do they do on this aspect?

Ok, well I'm 35, married, 2 kids under 3, working part time. My husband's earnings mean we will be losing a proportion of our child benefit. That issue alone riles me, as we waited to have children so we were in a good position financially and secure with our home and careers, and while I don't believe in 'sponging' from the state I do believe that any savings from the benefits change will be eaten up in administration. The Tories seem to think that we are somehow so wealthy and we aren't badly off at all, but are being penalised for being responsible. At least that's how it feels. I don't think they understand the balancing act of working mothers in any way. The proposed changes to childcare vouchers are a joke. The constant tampering with the education system causes undue stress for both parents and children. I get no advantage for being married and yet the Tories claim to want to promote marriage. I just don't believe them. David Cameron and his family are so squeaky clean and 'perfect'. I thought he might be more sympathetic with his experiences of children with disablilities but I'm not so sure now. Clegg I think means well but is drowned out by the Tories. Miliband, I have no idea what he thinks about women but his connections to the Unions make me think he might be more aware of the challenges women face over discrimination in the workplace.

2) and how well or badly do you think they make sure or take account of women being heard in their party and in politics generally?
First of all David Cameron?
And then Nick Clegg?
And then Ed Miliband?
What about another party leader you know of (or one you think should/ could be a party leader) - please name them and then say: how well or badly do they do on this aspect?

I don't like the women only shortlist policy - not sure if any of them still do this now. The best person for the job should be considered. I don't appreciate the attitude that women are less capable which I think Cameron has displayed on a few occasions. The others, I don't know.

3) Finally for now - which party - if any - do you trust the most to look after the interests of women? Why? And which do you trust the least? And why?

The Lib Dems I think have more of a history of equality. Then Labour, finally the Tories, in order of trust. But I'm not really sure that any of them really 'get' women.

How well or badly do you think the party leaders could manage your household finances effectively?

First of all David Cameron?

I think he would just hand them over to someone else and depending on how well they did he would either take the credit or give them the blame

And then Nick Clegg?

Probably have a good shot at it but would cave under pressure!

And then Ed Miliband?

He would dilly and dally around on what to do and end up frittering it all away

What about another party leader you know of (or one you think should/ could be a party leader) - please name them and then say: how well or badly do they do on this aspect?

Imagine the party leaders had to live on your family budget, which do you think would cope best/worst? Why? What problems would they encounter?

First of all David Cameron?
And then Nick Clegg?
And then Ed Miliband?

I think they would all struggle as I can't imagine they are used to living under a huge shadow of debt, rising household bills, frozen pay, changes to pension, performance related pay not related to your own performance, plus childcare costs

What about another party leader you know of (or one you think should/ could be a party leader) - please name them and then say: how well or badly do they do on this aspect?

How well or badly do you think the party leaders could manage your household finances effectively?

First of all David Cameron?
Probably better than us for switching suppliers for deals. I would imagine that Sam would be better placed to run the family finances overall - she has a real world business background, albeit in luxury goods.
And then Nick Clegg?
Again, I think I'd rather have Miriam doing the budgeting. Not sure career politician is a god recommendation.
And then Ed Miliband?
Probably clueless. Spend it all on something that looked like a good idea at the time then realise the next week that he had nothing left over.

What about another party leader you know of (or one you think should/ could be a party leader) - please name them and then say: how well or badly do they do on this aspect? Alec Salmond might possibly manage better.

Imagine the party leaders had to live on your family budget, which do you think would cope best/worst? Why? What problems would they encounter?

First of all David Cameron?
Probably fine
And then Nick Clegg?
Again, probably fine
And then Ed Miliband? Shouldn't be a problem
Having said that, we're reasonably comfortable, both with good jobs with enough seniority and flexibility that between us we don't have to shell out on ridiculous childcare costs. They might all realise that there wasn't much left over for the personal appearance/grooming budget, but then we just have different priorities. We also very, very rarely eat out or go out to shows together because a reasonable budget times six people equals an awful lot of money.

What about another party leader you know of (or one you think should/ could be a party leader) - please name them and then say: how well or badly do they do on this aspect?

How well or badly do you think the party leaders could manage your household finances effectively?

DC doesn't have a clue about the price of anything.
NC might stand a chance
EM looks like he might spend a little less than the rest, but from looking at his history on Wiki (yes, I know, I needed to sort out the 2 brothers), I doubt thats true, so he is one of those people who looks a bit dishevelled whatever they spend on clothes.

Imagine the party leaders had to live on your family budget, which do you think would cope best/worst? Why? What problems would they encounter?

They would probably all do OK. We are very fortunate that there is no desperate need to budget, so if they thought about it, and didn't book a holiday, buy a new car etc, (or probably a new suit) they would be OK.

It would depend on how long they had to do it for. I'm sure they could live on the toughest MN budget for 24 hours, would manage week or 2 after payday of most. Its the living day in, day out on low cash, and then having to deal with the washing machine breaking etc which is unrealistic in any "could you live on". And I doubt any of them would stick with it for long enough to deal with the long term grind of it.

1) So, these days how well or badly do you think the current main party leaders are doing on understanding the issues and concerned facing women like you.
First of all David Cameron?
And then Nick Clegg?
And then Ed Miliband?
What about another party leader you know of (or one you think should/ could be a party leader) - please name them and then say: how well or badly do they do on this aspect?
I don't really think any of the party leaders are very good at understanding women's issues.

2) and how well or badly do you think they make sure or take account of women being heard in their party and in politics generally?
First of all David Cameron?
And then Nick Clegg?
And then Ed Miliband?
What about another party leader you know of (or one you think should/ could be a party leader) - please name them and then say: how well or badly do they do on this aspect?
Again, I don't think any of them are very good at it.

3) Finally for now - which party - if any - do you trust the most to look after the interests of women? Why? And which do you trust the least? And why?
I don't trust any of them particularly, but, looking at the women they are married to, I have a sneaking suspicion that Nick Clegg is the one with the most feminist leanings.

Sorry, not very helpful on this one.

ow well or badly do you think the party leaders could manage your household finances effectively?

First of all David Cameron? Well, he's reducing it....
And then Nick Clegg? He's not shown any management skills so far.
And then Ed Miliband? Not sure.

Imagine the party leaders had to live on your family budget, which do you think would cope best/worst? Why? What problems would they encounter?

First of all David Cameron? He'd find it hard not to have DD1 cared for 24/7.
And then Nick Clegg? He'd probably cope OK.
And then Ed Miliband? He'd probably cope OK.

David Cameron - he has betrayed carers of children with SN, who are mostly women. He said he understood. He said he'd been there. He said he'd look after us. He lied.

Nick Clegg - He's turned out to be a snake in the grass. He sacrificed his integrity to get a place in leadership. His party will suffer for it.

Ed Miliband - He's getting there, but I think they chose the wrong brother.

Not sure, tbh. Teresa May seems to be doing ok.

1. None. First, Lib Dem, second Labour (only because I think they're interested in equality for all), third Conservative.

I'm sad that I feel this way. For the first time I have considered not voting, or spoiling my paper.

Answering before RTFT so that I am not influenced.

"Thinking about when you decide which party to vote for, how important is the leader of the party in that decision?"

Absolutely vital. The leader is representing the party. Several parties can have very similar policies, but with very different rationales. I also think that the leader's integrity becomes apparent and can instill, or destroy, trust. For example, the behaviour of David Cameron and Nick Clegg has eroded my faith in politics in general.

"What do you look for in a party leader? What makes a good party leader and what makes a bad one? What makes a good prime minister and what makes a bad one?"

Integrity, firstly. Considered decision making. No rash decisions to appease voting majorities. Willingness to explain decisions in a way that is accessible to all.

A bad party leader is one who prioritises soundbites over sincerity.

A Prime Minister who is more interested in their appearance than the country is a bad one.

"Thinking about the party you voted for at the 2010 General Election and the party you would vote for now, has it changed?"

I am, for the first time, at a loss as to how to vote. I voted Labour in the last election, because I couldn't face the Conservatives getting in and I was sure the Lib Dems couldn't get it on their own. In the immediate aftermath, I wished I voted Lib Dem. Now, I'd never vote for Lib Dems because they have shown themselves to be hypocritical, more interested in taking a place at the table than in sticking to their policies. I'd never vote Conservative, either. Labour...well they aren't shining. The fringe parties don't have any benefit to me. I'm a disillusioned voter.