MNHQ here: do you think Westminster politicians understand your life?

[RowanMumsnet]

Hello

We at MNHQ have been undertaking a project with the research consultancy Britain Thinks to find out what mothers across the UK think about how the last year has gone - and what they think politicians should focus on as we (hopefully) emerge from the COVID crisis.

You can see some of the findings here and some coverage in the i newspaper here.

Headlines from the survey we conducted with MNers include:

86% said they felt politicians across all parties are out of touch with the realities of everyday life for ordinary families;
73% say they are ‘concerned about the opportunities my local area offers for young people’;
64% say they feel pessimistic about job opportunities in their local area; and
43% are pessimistic about their children’s future prospects (things like job opportunities and home ownership).

In the focus groups we did with mothers in 'Red Wall' seats across England and Wales, the issue about concern for local areas came through really strongly.

So we'd love to know: what's the one thing you'd like your MP (or your council) to do that would improve your local area? Could be something to do with the physical environment (parks, green spaces), services (youth clubs, children's centres), transport, jobs, or anything else that takes your fancy - what would be on your wishlist?

Thanks
MNHQ

Bring back Sure Start Children's centres , don't start that Right start it whatever they call it which is just copying the former services.

Make it a civil crime for men not to pay child financial support

Reopen youth centres and employ more youth centre workers across the country

Stop funding Tory friends and their businesses. It is repugnant.

Make businesses offer part time or shared work to those with under 16yr olds compulsory.

Offer more Apprenticeships and Returnships through companies and make the government support these posts with paid roles

Add more Black history to the compulsory curriculum. It is part of British history full stop.

I live in NI.

I’d like each and every MLA, and MP, to do the Freedom Programme and to live on benefits for an unspecified time.

Not a week, not a month, just a random amount of time, at a random period in their political career, and not with the protection of the police or private staff.

If they truly understood the fear of no money and no protection and no idea of when those fears would end, then they may be better informed and inclined to do something about it.

Seriously? I'm in Scotland, I detest Westminster and the disdain they have for Scotland and the Scottish people. Just watch Mhairi Black's speech on what things have been said to her, "you are too ugly to be raped" being one of them.
I have watched Westminster in the television and I see behaviours that I would boot my child in the area for, entitled, privileged arseholes that do NOT deserve to be in the position that they are!

*arse

If MPs wanted to feel in touch with ordinary families, it is possible for them to conduct their own experiments. Try living for one month on average UK wages. Or better still, try going one month on minimum wage and see what it makes you prioritise. There should be an initiative on accepting your position that you have to do this just to prove you can relate to the mere mortals you are supposed to represent.

Child support payments should be mandatory. There should be a box for people to tick on accepting a job "do you have children that don't live with you?" and child maintenance should be automatically deducted and transferred to the resident parent. Why should resident parents (mostly women) have to jump through hoops to claim it? The onus should be on the state to make the father's pay. I'm a single mother and pay 100% for everything for my children. I'm also a tax payer, so I'm also paying for the thousands of other children from 1 parent households whose fathers opt out of their responsibilities. If child maintenance was mandatory and deducted at source, this would close a lot of gaps in educational attainment also as many single mothers can't afford resources, tutors, or extra curricular activities etc that 2-income families can provide.

Many women end up with a smaller pension pot as result of maternity leave or career breaks to raise children. There should be an option for the parent who continues working to split his/her pension contributions to pay into both pension pots. This way, women wouldn't be as financially penalised in the long term for having a family.

@MildredPuppy yes! Bang on!

I agree that child maintenance should be mandatory and deducted at source. If the student loan company can do it, why not child maintenance?

I also think that most politicians don't have the first clue about real life. I have a list as long as my arm of things they ought to know, but to be honest it all comes down to the fact that the majority of us don't have their money, their connections, their opportunities. Even if you force someone to try living on minimum wage for a month, they would still be doing it in the house they bought on their ministerial salary, with the family and friendship connections they already have. Its not the same experience. So really I want politicians to develop empathy. And to understand that kindness is not a weakness to be exploited, but a trait to be valued. But that's a pipe dream.

Firstly I'd like politicians to recognise that they don't have a right to rule given by their social status, birth or political party but are answerable to and have responsibility for all the people in their constituency whether they voted for them or not.

I'd like a recognition that capitalism has victims as well as beneficiaries, and if that is the economic model we follow, that there is a moral obligation to assist those people. In fact, I'd like politicians to remember what morality really means - not family values and photos with the wife and kids when you've been caught out with someone you shouldn't - but actually actively trying to do the right thing, not just the populist thing, or the thing that funnels more money to your cronies / party donors.

I can't remember the last time that anyone who did something wrong actually resigned. Instead we are supposed to 'move on' and close our eyes to double standards and corruption on a massive scale. I'd quite like some honour and probity from our politicians. Then they might get some respect.

Stop giving planning permission for residential homes in already built up areas.

Build more schools.
Improve transport within the local area instead of always focusing on transport to and from the neighbouring city.
Make the arts venue that was bequeathed to the council more inclusive.
Build more arts venues.

Do a huge campaign to encourage more foster carers.

Oh and provide some land for allotments.

I think it’s hilarious that so many people make sweeping statements like ‘MPs have no idea what it’s like to live on a low wage’ etc.

When you look at MPs now- yes they’re earning very well. But that doesn’t mean they haven’t had it hard in the past.
Why do people presume that no MPs have struggled?

And I don’t think that MPs feel entitled to their position. Most have worked very hard to get elected, and work very hard. Lots of the work is not necessarily ‘seen’ but it’s going on.

And no- they don’t get constant police protections despite death threats. And they can’t refurbish their houses and ‘flip’ any more.

Personally I feel that my MP understands my life but that’s because I’m married to him.

And yes- we live in the constituency and have done for years. (He goes to London during the week obvs)

And I don’t think that MPs feel entitled to their position. Most have worked very hard to get elected, and work very hard. Lots of the work is not necessarily ‘seen’ but it’s going on.

If you are married to an MP @LatteToday you will know that plenty of MPs feel pretty entitled, you will surely have met some of the worst offenders at party events!

Many do not work hard at all, due to our stupid FPTP system.

That doesn't mean none of them work hard but we do have to be realistic - some are total shockers.

Properly fund education so schools can provide teaching assistant and 1-1 where needed.

Fund send provision people should not be waiting 18 month plus for autism assessment.

Fund children's services, bring back children's centres have enough health visitors and social workers.

Deal with the scandal that is mental health provision.

And no they have no idea what it's like for so many children and struggling families relying on food banks etc .

No they haven't got a clue.

They have spent years fucking over education and teachers. They spent a huge amount of time during the last year bad mouthing them and the unions in an attempt to hide their own mess, and then have the bare faced gall to come out and thank teachers for their hard work!

Spent the last 12 months hailing nurses (and the NHS) then refuse to give them a pay rise. Whilst giving themselves 3% (ish)

Spent the last 12 months giving money to their mates for poorly thought out schemes that didn't work with no penalties. (and themselves another expenses rise so that they can kit out "home offices")

Having to have a footballer persuade them to continue to pay for FSM so that kids can eat.

Supporting shill groups that have little or no basis in fact because they shout the loudest.

Having no respect for the experts in any field.

Saying that children are to go back to school for MH reasons then putting exam years under the most stress that they have ever been under.

On the same theme, not supporting or extending MH groups.

I agree whole heartedly with everything that has been said and more ...
we are dealing with career politicians as oppose to vocational politicians they do not care about this country or the people in it ....the covid 19 really exposed their lack of knowledge and how people worked to earn a living millions left without support - oh well that's alright then !Key figures had to totally embarrase them to get food to the kids ... NHS kicked in the teeth... while Cummings gets a 40percent pay rise MPs also get their pay rise and expense accounts !
seriously I have no words that can describe their behaviour that is polite ....suffice to say they are corrupt- thick- deceitful- utterly amoral group of people ..they dare to demonise people who have to go hungry and the kids suffering and they who have to claim on the state ....it was bad before covid 19 with austerity measures and cutbacks in place
and lets not forget they get paid TAX PAYERS MONIES WE ARE THIER EMPLOYERS ARENT WE ??

None of them understand my life. None of them care about my issues. They care about being re-elected, they care about being promoted. None of them have had to suffer with job insecurity or furlough. None of them have suffered significantly during this lock down.

A lot of these politicians have been found 'helping themselves'. Priti Patel with her £77,000 spent on eyebrows. Dominic Cummings with his trip to Barnard Castle. His special contracts to buddies. David Cameron with his advisory payment from Greenshill. The list goes on....and on...

Dildo Harding with her special payments to muck up test and trace. Good buddies with David and Boris....

Yes I think they do, however that doesn't influence they way they behave.

It's all about the votes and what they think will "edge" them over certain voting thresholds.

Social media has a big part to play imho in how many politicians perceive their popularity.

But it's dangerous barometer by which to determine your appeal to the masses.

They are all rich and part of the 'old boys' club.

They don't understand my life at all. They don't care . Probably sit in their huge mansions every evening eating caviar and huge tubs of posh ice cream local homemade organic of course daaaaahling 😆----

How can they have a clue? Look at them - their background and experience means that they haven’t lived the lives that most people have.

Otherwise why else would there be such a nasty streak about them?

Money needs to be put in the places which will benefit the most people for the longest time. And that’s in health, adult social care (for the elderly population)c childcare and education.

I live in an area that's a Toy safe seat. The current MP has been incumbent for donkeys years. Because he's so confident that he'll continue to get it, he's really lazy. Engages very little with the constituents, blatantly ignores anyone who lobbies with a view that he doesn't agree with (as in, won't reply to letters, won't make appointments etc) turns up to the Commons to vote with Boris every single time. Never rebels, anything for a quiet life.

I feel quite disenfranchised tbh.

I'd like to see some evidence from him that he understands the issues around rural poverty and doesn't just lobby for the interests of the landowners. Rural transport is a massive issue and impacts in all sorts of ways, access to employment, education, medical facilities, food banks etc He's never given any indication that he understands these problems that people face.