Nick Clegg on Mumsnet this Thursday (16th Sept) evening between 8 and 9 pm

[JustineMumsnet]

We're delighted that the Deputy Prime Minister, Nick Clegg, will be joining us for a webchat this Thursday evening 8 and 9pm.

Next week the Deputy PM will be joining other world leaders, celebrities and business leaders who are gathering in New York for the UN Millennium Development Goals (MDG) Summit. He will be aiming for global action to reduce the shocking number of women who die during pregnancy and childbirth in the world's poorest countries.

Nick is happy to answer your questions on the UN summit as well as on his role as Deputy Prime Minster. Join us on Thursday evening or if you can't make it along then post your question (one each only please) here.

Thanks.

Action plans are all well and good but is the money in place to see it through and stick to our prior commitments?

with so little money floating about at the moment, what can be done to help such an important issue? we often forget how well off we really are

Where is he?

Are you braced for a defeat in the next election?

Sorry second question, but had to ask.

nick, i understand the importance of maternal mortality etc, but what about the effect of nhs cuts on uk figures, should we not concentrate on the state of our country and stop our figures rising which is what will happen if proposed nhs funding falls.

But why did you join a coalition with the Tories? Because they had the largest share of the vote? what if the BNP had the largest share of the vote, would you jump in to power sharing with them too?

Mr Clegg,
Have you ever heard the old saying "charity begins at home" ?
Would it not be better to tackle the issue of child poverty in our own country properly before taking on another countrys problems as well?
A scarily high percentage of children are still living below the poverty line and this is expected to get higher once the demolition sorry coalition goverment have made the seemingly endless cuts that they are imposing proposing.
With essential services such as sure start and health services cut will world leaders be meeting in five years to discuss child poverty in this country?

We realise you want to answer questions about maternal mortality rates etc etc, the problem is, which you surely must see in the comments, is that because you have gone back on so much of what you said in the GE campaign, what you now say doesn't matter.

You really need to address why you have changed so many of your policies. Integrity is the overlaying factor in politics, once you have lost yours, people won't trust you.

It's all about women's empowerment. Unless women feel more in control of their own lives and crucially how and in what circumstances they give birth we will not be able to tackle v high maternal mortality rates. That's why we are reorganising our entire aid programme to put women at the heart of everything we do on developing countries. We think we will be able to double the number of women and babies saved by UK aid by 2015.

@UnePrune

That's a really good question dinkystinky. It's why I asked down the thread what NC is learning - it's such a huge, huge web of poverty, malnutrition, lack of access to hygienic conditions (NB doesn't have to be a hospital), depressing attitudes towards women, random cultural factors, fear

If hygiene is the biggest "saviour" of pregnant women, how do they propose to change global society to ensure that all women have access to a hygienic environment to give birth in? If nutrition is the next biggest factor - well, that's a hard one too. [understatement]

And where does the aftermath of childbirth fit into this? Infection, fistulae, prolapse etc. These can ruin lives.

Very laudable to be supporting the MDG and I obviously some very pressing global health issues being discussed, but what about sorting out the state of maternity care in the UK?

Wouldn't have described the last three pages as a "pretty mixed" reaction. If this is the level of honest reaction we are going to get may as well go and make dinner.

Nick - why do the cuts have to be so quick?? What do you think reaction of grassroots delegates at the party conference will be to the deep cuts in public spending?

so none of mmy questions will be answered then? great :(

Empowerment. How very 1980s.

Maybe you could get them some poles to dance round or something

Verso - I believe that lip-service alone is paid to the maternity services in this country. Promises are made but rarely funded well enough for them to be fulfilled without detracting from the present services.

Cheekylittlesox - he's only answered two questions so far.

come on nick - show some backbone and answer some of the questions that us mothers are worried about. don't disappoint me!

Its not just about childbirth then - it needs to be about education and choices and birth control - with that in mind - what do you make of the Popes pronouncements on such things?

Mr Clegg,

I voted Lib Dem in a Tory / Lib Dem marginal to avoid the kind of policies that the government are currently putting in place. How can you justify such an about turn on everything that your party stood for? Don't you think that bankers and business should be paying back the deficit rather than deprived children you promised you would protect?

Thank you.

Hi Nick,

What would you say to voters like me who gave you our vote at the last election and feel kicked in the teeth to see you loved up with Cameron? Do you feel happy that you sold us up the river or are you more happy that you got a foot in the door?

Mixed?!!

Can you answer the Fawcett Society question, please?

You say that "we are reorganising our entire aid programme to put women at the heart of everything we do in developing countries"

But we've also been told that new national security council is requiring that national security considerations are placed at the heart of aid projects.

How can both be true? Exaclty what will be the implications of a securitised development budget for the goal of improving maternal and neonatal health?

Hello Mr Clegg,
Are you relieved that the decision to renew Trident has been shelved ?

A few NHS questions Nick. I would answer us mum,s?