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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to think the Camerons are hypocrites?

381 replies

Pixel · 05/04/2015 15:51

I've always had the utmost sympathy for them and what they went through in losing their eldest son, but Sam has made me very cross today. She's going on about how difficult it is caring for a disabled child and saying 'it pushes you to the limits of what you can cope with', yet the other day I saw this article. It says that the BBC has seen leaked documents showing that the Conservatives are planning to cut carer's allowance and disability benefits should they get re-elected.

OP posts:
Iggly · 05/04/2015 20:55

So why has Samantha Cameron decided to give an interview now.... Having never spoken out before.

Hmmm let me think...

TheCatsFlaps · 05/04/2015 20:59

YANBU. They have no idea what it is like to live on a low income. He is ideologically repugnant, and she is a vapid aristocrat wheeled out to give him a softer side.

KERALA1 · 05/04/2015 20:59

Exactly iggly tricky isn't it? I am quite pro politicians and didn't think the Cameron's were too bad but this is going waaaay to far. Sickening.

ssd · 05/04/2015 21:01

its pure coincidence iggly..........Hmm

Iggly · 05/04/2015 21:01

Yes it is. Very sad. Because it makes things even worse - people become more suspicious of politicians and are put off voting.

Wendied · 05/04/2015 21:01

Shakes - my FIL made the point today that given our personal circumstances DH and me should've voting Tory, but for me and DH it goes back to beliefs. I believe in Labour thinking albeit their policies will cost me and DH more. I was so angry to see Sam Cam in that article, I thought it was blatant trying to appear as just another mum, when really she isn't.

I'll be voting Labour, I think Milliband isn't 'leadership material' in the way Dave is, but I can't buy into the Cameron 'I'm just like you, Eton, ethos' he is trying to con us with.

Probably garbled thinking, after a glad or two, but the depths as a family they are happy to plumb made me feel saddened.

Wendied · 05/04/2015 21:03

Should be a 'glass or two' or maybe three!!

KERALA1 · 05/04/2015 21:04

Agree wendied

Wendied · 05/04/2015 21:05

TheCats put it better than me,in fewer words!! Xx

ShakesBootyFlabWobbles · 05/04/2015 21:09

Thanks for that Wendied.

Iggly I don't think it is coincidental timing at all, I would fully expect to see personal life interviews with MPs and families in the run up to an election campaign, as that is topical news.

I just can't make the connection that others are that reading an interview about the PM's spouse's personal life (or an interview with other parties, e.g. kitchengate) would change how someone votes, it has nothing to do with party policies. I think making that assumption is the patronising part but I am in the minority view.

PoppyAmex · 05/04/2015 21:12

It's shameful and distasteful before you even consider David Cameron's political stance on public free healthcare and disability allowance; then it's just despicable.

TinklyLittleLaugh · 05/04/2015 21:17

Cameron's father was quite seriously disabled as well. I cannot for the life of me see why he is so utterly lacking in empathy. Is it because his father was fairly successful in life and apparently "never complained"? Does he hold every other disabled person up to some impossible standard?

I am disabled but we are fairly comfortable financially. I am under no illusions as to how much more crap my life would be if we were skint.

championnibbler · 05/04/2015 21:19

YANBU.
They are hypocrites.
they do not care about anyone is not rich and white.

Thereyouarepeter · 05/04/2015 21:22

it's not just about SWAYING votes - its about ensuring your current vote gets out and votes aswell...!!

Original poster
Pixel · 05/04/2015 21:41

I just can't make the connection that others are that reading an interview about the PM's spouse's personal life (or an interview with other parties, e.g. kitchengate) would change how someone votes

I don't personally think it will change how people vote (or not many anyway), as most people are sensible, it's the fact that the politicians obviously think it will that is so insulting. They have such a low opinion of ordinary voters, women especially, that they think our little heads will be turned by "ah but he's such a family man and his faithful wife cooks porridge every morning".

OP posts:
LineRunner · 05/04/2015 21:41

The Conservatives are worried that they will haemorrhage votes at this election because they are perceived as uncaring about the NHS.

SPAD = special adviser. Malcolm Tucker and his many, many minions, are watching Mumsnet like hawks in the next few weeks, nervous of any potential trend that sees Cameron as less than the champion of the NHS.

If they are reading: tell him we know that Government provides on average 87% of a Council's funding, which pays for the social care and specialist provisions that children and young people with disabilities need, and that the Government has slashed this by 30% in the last three years.

ssd · 05/04/2015 21:50

yes I hope they are reading MN like hawks and they keep peddling the family man image, its so heart warming to see a normal family at no 10..

yeah right.

ragged · 05/04/2015 21:51

I'm on the fence. MNers who have lost a child often post words to the effect that You can't predict or dictate how people deal with that grief.

If Cameron copes by bringing it up often & Gordon Brown by almost never mentioning it, who's to say that one is right & one is wrong? This is a whole thread of ppl who dislike Cameron for the frequent mentioning it, so not looking like a clever political manipulation to me.

ScotsWhaHae · 05/04/2015 21:54

Shakes if you are so convinced that interviews like this aren't going to affect votes why do you think they are doing them?

Why are all the candidates from all parties doing anything?

zeezeek · 05/04/2015 21:55

The issue isn't mentioning it or not. It is using the death of a child for political capital - which Cameron has done. Brown didn't and continues to not use his personal tragedies for this purpose. They can both choose to deal with it in private how they wish.

ScotsWhaHae · 05/04/2015 21:57

It's about creating an image to sell to us.

SamCam, the slightly edgy (yeah because a shite tattoo really gives you an edge Hmm ) devoted wife of the pm posing casually in her sofa telling us she's just like us! Look everyone, we're normal!

ShakesBootyFlabWobbles · 05/04/2015 21:57

Because it will sell newspapers. because the election is current and newspapers report on topics related to current events.

I find the thought that people think voters will be swayed how to vote by reading these articles Shock Do you really think people are that dumb? Do you know anyone that has done this, I never have.

ScotsWhaHae · 05/04/2015 22:01

It's complete and utter bollocks.

Getting to vote doesn't come with the condition you spend time making an informed choice based on policies. And neither it should. That does however mean large chunks of people are voting for personalities, perceptions of people, aspirations and impressions.

That's why political parties spend obscene amounts of money on pr.

Please don't pretend that you don't understand what's going on. That's disingenuous to say the least.

No one speaks to you from a vacuum. Least of all 4 weeks before a general election.

ScotsWhaHae · 05/04/2015 22:04

You're telling me that you can't for one minute imagine someone saying 'oh what a lovely family, and they lost a child, how sad' and that quite possibly being the closest they come to forming a political opinion?

You are working on the assumption that everyone takes an interest in party politics. That's wrong.

Mintyy · 05/04/2015 22:06

Yanbu op.

I have never forgotten a post made on another thread on here last November by a regular Mumsnetter with a disabled dd of 8 years old, who had similar conditions to Ivan Cameron, and she spelled out exactly what the cuts from the current coalition Government meant to her and her family. And it was disgusting, the small amount of support they were getting being cut from every direction. The poor Mumsnetter was in utter despair.

Yanbu at all Pixel.