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.

Dont think I lied about Trident at all - have been saying the same thing for years.
The coalition government is committed to ensuring women have choice over their reproductive health - particularly over when and how many children to have.
The SoS for International Development Andrew Mitchell launched a public consultation ?Choice for Women ? wanted pregnancies, safe births? at the end of July to inform the development of a new business plan on reproductive, maternal and newborn health. I would encourage anyone interested to go onto the DFID website and have their say about what the UK should be doing on these issues

@StewieGriffinsMom

Well, considering he actively lied about his policy on Trident on the last webchat, I'm not holding out too much hope.

However, I would like assurances that our current government will never try to emulate previous American policy preventing funding to clinics which offer support services for birth control, including access to abortion. That policy was utterly destructive for women and I fear our current government is so reactionary in policy that they will use this 'policy' as an excuse to further cut international aid.

The ring fencing didn't work before. How will it work now?

Well there's at least half a compliment there. The Liberal Democrats and the Conservatives are as distinct as we've always been, but the fact is, when parties come together I think people are inevitably going to draw these kind of comparisons.

At the General Election the Liberal Democrats made four key pledges: fairer taxes, more money for disadvantaged pupils, cleaner politics and a greener, rebalanced economy. All of those ambitions are at the heart of this government's agenda and that is something we are very proud of.

@FrameyMcFrame

Bah! Nick, I liked you on the TV and I liked the lib dem policies.

But I can't stand the tories, and you've turned into one.

actually the NHS is the largest in europe and the 3rd largest in the world... or at least it was until all these cuts are the schools heading in the same direction???

you claim to not be reducing funding for the nhs- but you clearly are by doing it through the back door, reducing funding elsewhere will put more pressure on the nhs to deal with the fallout of poverty.

Thanks this is an important one. Of course money and financial commitments which have been made to the world's poorest are central to reaching the MDGs by the deadline in 2015. I think we should be proud in Britain that the UK is a leader is this regard - the Coalition Government has made very clear its commitment to spending 0.7% of our national income on development assistance. The challenge now - and this is what I will discuss with world leaders next week - is to make sure others live up to the promises they made. And to play our full part, we will go further and make new commitments next week.

I'm also really looking forward to hearing from the private sector about what it can do to support government efforts to deliver the MDGs.

@omnishambles

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

Nick, are you going to act on anything that's been said tonight? If you read through the thread at your leisure outside of the webchat, will you respond and then action anything you regard as important?

and the police?? why has money not been ringfenced for other emergency services?

After 20 years of service to the NHS I have just recieved a letter about voluntary redundancy - I really, really want to believe what you are saying but it just doesn't reflect the reality of what is happening on the ground.

The UK is a leader in supporting countries around the world to remove financial barriers that prevent poor women and children in developing countries getting life saving care. The UK assisted the Government of Sierra Leone to lift health user fees for women and children which has led to a huge increase in utilization of primary health care. Early indications are that the double of outpatient consultations have almost doubled in the first three months.

@healthymums

Hi Nick,

The best way to help mothers and babies in poor countries would be to make sure they all have access to free healthcare, that countries have propoerly equipped clinics in rural and urban areas, with properly trained medical staff. Are you going to support poorer countries to give their women and children free care? How will you address the shortage of nurses and doctors?

so if the coalition gov is ommmited to womens healt and ensuring they have a cghoice over hoew nmany children to have. lower the age rate for women to have a smear test.

wouldnt that be cheaper for tge goiv then paytihng for the removal of cin and v,cervical cancer

Thank you to everyone who took the time to come and post tonight. Sorry I couldn't answer them all. We got drawn off topic a fair bit, but I do understand why, and I think it would be fair to say you've given me a tougher grilling than Paxman!

I'm pleased we at least managed a few questions on the MDG summit, and a lot of people clearly have strong views on what you want us to achieve there.

Good night Mumsnet.

P.S. I'm not a Tory!

do you know what... i never thought i'd be this interested in politics- see what you have done to me

Thankyou Nick. Before I nod off, nursing is a great job and I adore it and will continue to be a loyal servant to the brill NHS despite the worries.x

OK well that was fun! Thanks all. Sweet dreams.

Please please please don't take child benefit away. Or if y ou do, only from people who are so rich they are giddy.

Please

"At the General Election the Liberal Democrats made four key pledges: fairer taxes, more money for disadvantaged pupils, cleaner politics and a greener, rebalanced economy. All of those ambitions are at the heart of this government's agenda and that is something we are very proud of."

But they are not Nick. That is the problem.

Fair doesn't come into it. Clean politics doesn't come into it. Which is why you have avoided all the questions related to fairness and clean politics.

HOnesty is appreciated. Its simple

soory about spelling imm on dhs phone and i cant type on it

thank you very much. Was actually impressed to see you stayed longer than promised and although you didnt exactly answer most of the tougher questions I think you have to have to be commended for staying till the end so to speak.

Im intensely frustrated that the questions which were answered on the UN Summit were utterly textbook and vague and provided very little information.

i asked one bloody question. one. might as well have talked to the wall eh.

Riven, we all missed him for all intents and purposes. It was largely fluff. Trust me.