To tell George Osborne that DH and I seperate thoughts and opinions and <gasp> women have their own votes!

[Bumperliciouzzzzzz]

Just receive a letter from George Osborne asking for my opinion on his economic policies, with a little slip at the bottom for answering questions like 'which of the following policies do you agree with?' and 'who are you going to vote for?' etc.

The thing is the letter was addressed to me and DH, and the back of the slip has both mine and DH's name on it, but low and behold, as I was canvassing him on his opinion, I found we differed! For example, I have no problem with inheritance tax, but he does, and I am going to vote Lib Dem (a tactical vote) but he is going to vote Green. So was I BU to tell Mr Osborne (politely) on the form that actually DH and I have separate opinions, and aren't going to vote 'as one'? I mean fair play, it is good to reach out to the electorate to get their view, but do it properly FFS, this is the 21st century.

YANBU. Weirdly, I got that letter this morning but instead of my DH's name, it was my BIL's (he lives with us). You got further than me as I put mine in the bin recycling.

YADNBU, I agree!

I was reading in the ST on Sunday that the Tories were going to send these letters to those they were calling, 'Take a Break' ladies. ie women who were avid watchers of GMTV and read TAB. Apparently George O said of said lady, 'She reads TAB, watches GMTV every morning and works p/t in a local shop whilst her husband works full time to proovide for the family.' (Disclaimer: I have paraphrased but that was the jist of what theST were saying)

The whole concept seemed quite insulting. I know they all target specific demographics but really!

Oh, well if I had known that I would have had a lot more to say on it! Twat. Have sealed it now though.

Normally these things just go in the bin, but I am also a believer in giving feedback and that you can't expect change unless you contribute to it, so I was trying to be helpful and honest.

@ brogan's post about targetting.

that's not how to spell targetting is it...

targeting

FFS

YANBU, it is likely that DH and I will vote for different parties.

DH and I got one each from George Osborne, possibly because we have different surnames. I speed read the first few paragraphs and then threw it in the bin. I didn't even bother leaving DH's out for him, I threw that in the bin too (I suspect that might be illegal, I'm wild and dangerous me).

They are so out of touch.

Anyone else going to be telling George how they feel? Or will they have wasted a few 'tax-free' campaign bucks

ooo really i wondered why i got one and dh didnt and now feel vexed at that coment as i do neither in fact i work and on days off run a business (and mumsnet) - cheeky twats

Well, obviously GO thinks my DH sits around all day and reads TAB, GMTV and MNs too! Which isn't far from the truth but substitute TAB with photography magazines, GMTV with Dr Who (though I did just catch him watching the voluptous miss dahl, then got in a huff when I criticised it and set it to record ) and MN for MacRumors.com then he'd not be far off, he does have a 'little part time job' to tide him over

"I was reading in the ST on Sunday that the Tories were going to send these letters to those they were calling, 'Take a Break' ladies. ie women who were avid watchers of GMTV and read TAB. Apparently George O said of said lady, 'She reads TAB, watches GMTV every morning and works p/t in a local shop whilst her husband works full time to proovide for the family.' (Disclaimer: I have paraphrased but that was the jist of what theST were saying)"

Well I haven't read take a break in years (if I ever have), work FT currently (although do plan to reduce that) and have been educated to PhD level, although I have nothing against working PT in a local shop. And yes we received one addressed to both of us.

Hmm might fill it in and point out that we are two people with different views. I hadn't read as far as reading he wanted a reply.

if the back of the slip had both your names on it, were you not each supposed to make your points and ensure it was clear who thought what? ie your ideas alongside your name or signed by you?

I feel this is a damned if you do and damned if you don't situation- if you had been sent 2 identical letters surely you could complain that the Tory's were wasting money sending 2 letters to one address? I'd rather they saved the money and expected the recipients to make clear whose response was whose, on the reply slip- if that makes sense.

YABU to worry your pretty little head with such things.

Mine was defo adressed to me and not dh - it went inthe bin but i have just tracked him down and emailed him telling him i dont read take a break or watch gmtv.

It's their money to waste though so that's up to them. And there's no room for separate views. Does seem to assume married couples have the same views which is bizarre.

Nah purple, there was no room, there was barely room for just my views! Someone cynical might think this was a just box ticking exercise

Didn't you get one anyway purple? You must have higher brow reading proclivities than me . Or maybe GO managed to find out that I regularly buy the Economist and was actually after some proper ideas...

(I hate to break it to him but I always buy it forgetting that I have a toddler and a (practically) FT job and rarely actually ever read the bloody thing)

I imagine we won't get one because we are not married, and I think they think we blimmin well should be, don't they? If he does send one I might consider letting him know my opinions about that policy in no uncertain terms.

No No missive from them but i think I know why- taps nose knowingly.

Care to share PP?

I think they realise it would be unnecessary.

Do you live in his constituency?

I do, where is my letter?

I have written to him asking for his policies on a few things, can't wait to see if A - he replies and B - what he says.

Oh this isn't just a Tory thing - we had something similar from the bastard SNP canvassers.

no am a paid up member.

The "take a break" woman is a Labour concept.

"She is a mother under 40, she works in a shop, lives near the M1, watches GMTV every morning, likes sitting in her garden at weekends ? and Gordon Brown would like to be her friend. Meet ?Take a Break woman?, the new archetypal marginal seat voter whom Labour is targeting in the general election."

Here.