The Observer states that political commentators have described the upcoming catfight as the 'Mumsnet election'

[moondog]

I don't beleieve a word spoken or written by journalists or politicians but it is good to know what a powerful force a group of women can be. The Internet must surely be applauded for giving a voice to women, in particular those at home with small children?

I never did follow the Gordon Brown Q&A but is it true that he was harangued over choice of biscuit? If so, shame on you. What better way to reinofrce notion that women only interested in trivia and that Mumsnet is synonymous with mumsy parochila goings on.

It wasn't the only question asked, but was the only one the media picked up on. Read it here before passing judgement!

Hmm, not convinced. So many peopel picked up online at the time picked up on it.
Women! Their own bloody enemies sometimes. Whi gives a shit what biscuits he eats?

He was also asked a home ed question as many times - where was that reported? I thought it said more for about how the media wanted to pigeon-hole mothers/women than anything else.

And it would have been a non-issue if he'd answered the light-hearted question. Mumsnet is a mix of the serious and piss-taking a more fun attitude, the questions reflected that.

Of course it now transpires he never saw the biscuit question, he wasn't sitting reading it all blow by blow at all.

Maybe.Bit of both then.Obviously media keen to portray MNers as bored needy housewives (it perplexes me that we are even seen as homogenous group)but by same token I think the site is taken very seriously, due in no small part to medial links of founders.

I don't know if attitudes to MN have changed slightly since the other party leaders have been on. I think now the perception is that MN are articulate women who can and will ask questions about the policies that effect them, such as tax credits. Crucially, women who are asking because they are swing voters and therefore the arguments that will win MN (that mythical whole) over will win over all the mum swing voters out there.

Of course, the bit that still isn't understood is that MN are articulate and ask questions / comment on all aspects of policy, not just those linked to childrearing.

The article hear www.newstatesman.com/politics/2007/05/female-vote-labour-women-brownhas some interesting insights in to why the policos are targeting MN.
Apart from saving a fortune in think tanks.
Traditionally women have apparently voted consevervative; this is no longer the case.
Some of the quotes that caught my eye.

?Because politicians need women's votes: it is one of the triumphs of psephological analysis of the past ten years that it is now understood that women decide elections.?

?Two factors are at work. In both the United States and Europe, there is now a body of evidence that suggests that once women have access to education and economic independence they move perceptibly to the left. This has nothing to do with the sexiness of the politicians. In fact, it is quite distinct from any personal appeal. It is simply that women under the age of 45 consistently say that they believe in the role of the state to support its citizens.?

?But perhaps Campbell's most important discovery is the link between being a mother of school-age children and a tendency to vote Labour. Using the British Social Attitudes survey, she has found that a middle-class, well-educated, well-paid woman working in the public sector with children under 11 is 70 per cent more likely to vote Labour than a similar man.?
Appoliges for dyslexa..

A silly Afterthought:

A mate of mine was in a news conference given by DC.He kept rubbing his nipples during it.
they all found it a bit distressing.

Sorry, I had to share that one.

All the eggs they are on the look out for are hear on one basket.

That article is very interesting btw MrsB.

Im trying to rember my history,(6 month old baby haze) it was the women temperance movement that was romanced by varouse partys.

I think both Labour and the Tories, have no idea how best to fight the election.
They are dithering like anything.

I was recently at a labour party meeting and the whole session was one big argument as to what's the best way forward.

Gordy had decided that he wanted to get back to basics. That his intention was to protect the disadvantaged and public services. That in order to do this, the more affluent in society would have to suffer.
Old fashioned class war, as it was touted in the papers.

Then Mandy came back and pointed out that this would decimate the centre vote, that Blair won a huge victory when he courted the middle classes.

So Gordy changed tack. Now he's talking up 'aspirations'.

Unfortunately, the party are at sea. How do they fight this election? What do they say on the door step? That's where things like MN come in no?

Surely most of MN are going to vote Lib Dem? Certainly if the webchats are anything to go by. Unfortunately Nick Clegg's chat coincided with the Hoon/Hewitt nonsense so the media didn't even register it.

Really interesting article MrsBlackbeard. I might even get that book it mentions.

Zeph - totally agree, it was a real shame the media didn't pick up on Clegg's MN chat as there was their answer staring them in the face. They have been saying that whoever wins the MN vote, wins the election. Landslide for Liberal Democrat's then!

The only way forward for the Labour party is to have a leadership contest, but GB been pruning back any of them that still have any bollox. So not many realistic contenders about.

Most of sane minded people think Lib, but worry that no one else dose and think it would be a drop in the ocean. Gleggs Ok but they should have gone for Vince, Hammer house of horror look and all; he still remains an extremely respected MP.

As for David (Eyes like Bambi)Cammeron, he'd have to get caught snorting coke of a hooker?s arss not to win this time, and the above would only cause a hung parliament.

The only way forward for the Labour party is to have a leadership contest

Yes, but not till after the election. I can't imagine what Hoon/Hewitt thought they were doing. Its highly unlikely that Labour will win, regardless of whether GBs leading or not. So who with an ounce of political savvy would have taken the bait? Become leader of a party which is about to receive a thrashing... no, much better they keep their powder dry until after the election.

Hoon/Hewitt was a bit too late in the day.
The skinny camp shadow of Tony B is still over the lot of them. GB is deluded.

As for DC, hes inheriting a maelstrom of shit. The economy has a sticky plaster on it for the election; the credit crunch hasn?t really got going yet unfortunately.

DC may turn out to be even more hated a pM then Mrs T in the end. Cameron looks all bambi, but you just have to look behind him at all the giant babies and duckhouse owners behind him, not a chin between them. He is the Magwi, and they are the gremlins.

I always said I would move country If the Tory got back in.

"Taxi for Mrs Blackbeard"..

i have been pimping around a fabbo new election policy and no fucker wants it.
tis cheap, and crowd pleasing

Giant babies and duckhouse owners - hehehe!

RonNumber what is it, has it anything to do with biscuits?

Go on then Ron, tell us about it?

I thought the idea was that women are more interested in public services because we have more contact with them, what with contraception and kids and all. Which might mean 'we' as a group tend to lean more towards parties that support public services, rather than banging on about cutting back the state.

The article is of corse a generalization, but this is what the party strategists are buying into as how things work, and why they?re all lurking around MN.

"...party strategists lurking round MN..."

According to this piece in today's Guardian/CiF they are lurking round at Innocent Smoothies to see if any branding lessons can be learned, to apply to GB (this revelation about halfway down the item)

www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2010/jan/19/election-lifetime-obama-palin-divide

Does anyone remember an Innocent smoothies marketing thing a couple of years ago, where people were encouraged to knit little woolly hats for smoothie bottles? Does this mean we will soon see GB on the campaign trail in a knitted woolly hat (and eating a choc biscuit) ... ???

Jesuz...the inocent wooly hats the last time I saw them would only cover a chaps manhood.
GB in a wooly cockhat.
Starts rocking and mumbling with vivid imaganation
PQM today DC seemed to push with the kids/famly agenda still, aparently tory head ofice cant understand why 'Dave the honnaray sister' dosent seem to be working.
appoliges again for dyslexa, one hand baby typeing as well.