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.

@mrsden

I wouldn't describe reactions to the coalition as mixed. I don't know anyone who thinks the coalition is doing a good job. And everyone I know who voted Lib Dem is disgusted at what has happened, this is not what they voted for. But maybe that's because I work in the public sector and this government has made it very clear that they hate all public sector workers. Nick - when did you realise that you were actually a tory? Was it before or after the election?

I was asked this question hundreds of times during the election and I always gave the same answer. The party that won the most amount of votes in the event of a hung parliament had the moral right to be the first to seek a government. That was the Conservatives and that is exactly what they did.

We formed a Coalition with them but that doesn't make anyone in the Liberal Democrats a Tory. We're a distinct political party with distinct policies. I hope you see lots of them in the Programme for Government - 900,000 people out of paying tax; the Green Deal; a guaranteed income for pensioners; a fairer politics; a banking levy. The list is long and it will grow over the next five years. For the first time in 70 years if you voted Lib Dem at an election, you get Lib Dem policies in Government.

Kveta, I?m delighted that you?ve received great support for breastfeeding in your local area. You and others have picked up on the importance of breastfeeding for mothers and babies both in the UK and particularly in developing countries. Evidence shows that Support to breastfeeding in developing countries would reduce infant deaths by more than 10%. UK development policy and programmes completely recognise the importance of immediate and exclusive breastfeeding for mothers. The UK supports the World Health Organisation?s (WHO) International Code of Marketing of Breast Milk Substitutes

@kveta

I voted LibDem and will again. As Vesela (quick aside - ahoj veselo, jak se mas? :)) says, the libdems did what they said they'd do - I don't agree with all that they have compromised on, but don't expect them to be able to please everyone - how could they?

My question is a bit crap and not quite on topic, but here goes:

I've been really impressed with the breastfeeding support in my local area (Hertfordshire), but am aware that such resources are not available throughout the UK. given that breastfeeding is supposed to be the best way to feed a baby, and that many thrid world countries supposedly follow the example of the western world, and thus see formula feeding as a desirable option (hence high child mortality rates through contaminated water, malnutrition, etc etc), will there be a greater emphasis on breastfeeding support in the UK to try and normalise it as a feeding method here and elsewhere?

NickClegg "I think too many people think these changes are going to happen overnight."

Some changes are happening pretty much overnight though, Nick.

I wouldn't say questions relating to maternal mortality in developing countries are 'fluffy'. It's rather depressing that so many want only to talk about domestic issues. Nobody, but nobody, in this country - before or after the comprehensive spending review - is going to be having it as hard as the average woman in Sierra Leone. Plenty of hard questions to be asked about development policy.

er where is nick clegg arent we all answering our own questions?

Yes we know all that re breastfeeding, the WHO, breastmilk substitutes etc
We talk about little else on bits of Mumsnet. Truly.

"The UK supports the World Health Organisation?s (WHO) International Code of Marketing of Breast Milk Substitutes"

What will the UK do to encourage companies to follow it?

Hear hear re the importance of breastfeeding and local suppport. The bottom line about successful initiation of breastfeeding is often hours of midwife/health visitor/peer supporter support for new mothers - all of which is massively under threat with the proposed NHS cuts - how are you going to ensure these vital public health priorities continue to be supported ?

You seem to think it is the fact that it is a coalition government that is the problem. THe problem is that you have turned into a Tory

What is the difference between you and a Tory?

And how do you distinguish between someone who is on the dole because they have had a rubbish education and there are no jobs for them, and someone who has this 'lifestyle' that Georgie so often talks about?

It seems to apply a broad brush to all.

"The crucial thing to remember about coalition politics is simply that it happens when voters say they don't want any single party to govern on their own. As a matter of principle, I don't think there's anything wrong with politicians of different parties working together in the national interest. Of course that offends people who feel really tribal about their politics, but I'm not sure if dog-eat-dog tribalism has produced good Government in the past."

Oh Lord.

The National Interest is not being served Mr Clegg. The vast majority of us who voted Lib Dem in the last election were hoping for some kind of progression, not regression.
It's all been so terribly disappointing and I'm actually sad that your party have shot yourselves in the foot this way.

I believe a rainbow coalition, or even a hung parliament which led to another general election would have garnered the LibDems so much more power and respect without this utter loss of principle.

Gordon's typing was much faster.

We won,t have any midwives left in this country at the rate of expected retirement,s and of course making nursing Degree level!!

'Gordon's typing was much faster.'

He didnt have to check all his answers with DC though

please please answer or at the very least promised to look into the education related questions. school are doing qualifications which universities are not accepting - what's the point??? Colleges half the value of btec first's i.e. they should be equivalent to 4 GCSE's but colleges only accept them as 2 GCSE's because they are not enough of a foundation to do a higher level course. why is the government spending millions on this???

@arses

I think the maternal mortality coalition plan is A Good Thing, or at least would be, if it weren't being discussed in a climate where most of us are genuinely worried about the impending spending review and what it might mean.

To paraphrase Philip Larkin, their life may be the harder course I see, but on the other hand, mine is happening to me.

It's very difficult to discuss this issue with you Nick, as important as it is, when afraid that public services will be decimated and the poor in our society cast aside in favour of benefits for the more well-off.

I am surprised you did not expect these questions, and will be even more surprised if you do not answer them..

Of course I realise that people feel v v anxious about the Comprehensive Spending Round, not least because there's so much uncertainty about before the announcements are finally made. Nor do I want to disguise the difficulties we face - difficulties, incidentally, which any Government of any composition would face.
But I think it's worth putting some of this into perspective: after the Spending Round, we'll still be spending around 700 billion pounds of public money per year, more in cash terms than we do now; we'll be spending almost exactly what Labour did for most of their years in office; and the proportion of public spending as a % of our national wealth will still be over 40%. Judging by some of the deliberate scaremongering in parts of the press and from political opponents, you'd be forgiven for thinking that we're turning the clock back to the 1930s. It's complete nonsense - we're simply trying to reduce our deficit over a five year period so that we can get the economy going, keep interest rates low, create jobs, and spend money on public services rather than on the country's debt interest. It's not easy, but I genuinely think in the long run it's the only responsible thing to do.

missbeehiving

I had to physically sit on my hands to stop myself typing the gorden comment .... thanks. Glad you did it

"I wouldn't say questions relating to maternal mortality in developing countries are 'fluffy'." Indeed not, Policy.

Nevertheless, there are a lot of very worried, frightened people here who are, by necessity, focussing on themselves and their own lives.

And who can blame them?

PMSL Shade of V

Very well put, ShirleyKnot

If I'd wanted to be dragged kicking and screaming back into Thatcherism, I'd have voted Cameron. Turns out I and many of my friends and family voted Clegg and got dragged back to Thatcherism anyway...

Here here!!

sooo tempted to type a biscuit at this point >sits on hands

I am disappointed with the level and ill-nature of the majority of posts ao far! Come to think of it is this why so few women will even consider going into politics these days? Ignorance and ill-manners are what we strive as devoted Mums to dissuade our offspring from (DS this evening...) so hey what about a more constructive approach here?

I for one think that it is a very good thing that recent PMs have young children and are active parents (though obviously the job of PM must restrict that). They have the perspective and they are - from all the main parties mind - trying to do their best. We live in complicated times and there are few 'right' or even 'simple' answers.

My Q for NC: For you personally what one thing would you most want to have achieved by the time the current 'alliance' ends? I do not mean for the party but in terms of legislation/something effected that will impact our lives (and if it is PR that and what is the next thing?)

Best wishes too - rather you than me!

all4u

PolicyW - might I clarify that I am very interested in issues in global maternal mortality. The problem is accepting answers about this from someone who appears to have very little integrity.

The pure irony of it all (altruistic visit to help 'the poor women' while cutting off lifelines for women in home country) is just too much