Live webchat with UKIP leader Nigel Farage, Thurs 24 Feb, 1-2pm

[KatieMumsnet]

Our live webchat guest this week is Nigel Farage. He is the leader of UKIP and has been a Member of the European Parliament (MEP) since 1999.

Known for his straight-talking, Nigel has made the headlines with forthright speeches, once telling the EU President he had the charisma of a 'damp rag'.

He is a regular on programmes including BBC Question Time.

If you have a question you'd like to put to Nigel, please join the webchat this Thursday lunchtime, 1pm - 2pm. If you won't be around then, please post your question here.

This time it IS Susiewho (my friend typed the other comments).

After reading this, all of my thoughts about UKIP have been confirmed...and they're not good!

O M G

To those who are asking about my special needs policy, I don't think there's any easy answer to this. I do understand why the last Labour government went for the policy of inclusion, but all of these things have to be on a case-by-case basis and certainly in many of the rural parts of the UK, it is of course difficult to give as much access for special needs as the country would want to.

'YOU were elected, therefore the EU is democratic. Or am I the one who doesnt understand the meaning of democracy?'

Mubarak was elected. So what?

susiewho it's hardly well thought through to ally yourself with parties like the Slovak National Party and the Northern League - a representative of which advocates the EXTERMINATION of gypsy children. NF may like il duce as one of his European allies: Mario Borghezio is a fascist apologist.

[jaw drops]

That has lost you the vote of every MNetter, Nige. Since most of us are of child bearing age.

@MmeLindt

Could you answer CaptainNancy's question please.

A serious question then Mr Farage:

How do you expect your party to appeal to women ('us' mums tend to be women btw) when the former UKIP member and MEP Nikki Sinclaire won a sexual discrimination case against her former colleagues in the party in December 2010?

You expelled her from UKIP for her refusal to sit with the EDF group in the EU Parliament that UKIP has allied itself with, that has amongst its members MEPs representing extremist views. When Mike Nattrass MEP also left the EDF grouping, he did not have the UKIP whip removed - despite him branding you 'a spiv' and 'a control freak'. Why was this because he's male?
How do you defend the indefensible this standpoint?

Only 8% of UKIP MEPS are female- not exactly representative. None are from BME backgrounds either. And presumably (now) none are LBGT. As a Dulwich College alumnus, you are yet another public schoolboy trying to tell us how to think vote.

Oh, and if there's time... please tell us how you defend Godfrey Bloom MEP heckling the German MEP Martin Schulz with the words "Ein Volk, ein Reich, ein Führer" last November, pretty please?"

There is a court case on Monday, but I utterly reject Sinclaire's claims. I was very disappointed to discover that Sinclaire had been made bankrupt in 2005 and not informed the party. She should not even have been a candidate for the party, let alone elected as an MEP.

Oh, and your friend and mine, John West says the following allegations have also been completely ignored by you, Nigel:

'He refuses to reveal publish his own full EU expenses or allowances, whilst condemning MP's for their greed.

He refuses to answer concerns about financial misappropriation and widespread corruption within his own Party.

He employs his wife despite promising not to do so when first elected as an MEP.

He boldly condemns the BNP but surrounds himself with extremists in UKIP's EFD Group. (Some friends you've got there, Nige...)

He refuses to publish the full accounts for UKIP?s former Ashford call centre.

And nor will he answer concerns over the hundreds of thousands of pounds taken from UKIP's South East regional account, laughingly described by him as 'other expenses'.
xxxxxxxxx

Fancy popping back later to clear that little lot up for us, do you?

Who are the many businesswomen who would never employ a lady of childbearing age (so all women 16-50)? Names please.

DH runs an SME - employs around 70 people - mostly young, male and female. If he refused to employ 50% of them then he would miss out on a huge amount of talent, skills, dedication and productivity. He emphatically disagrees with Godfrey Bloom's contention.

I come from an industry (marketing) which is almost entirely populated by women of child-bearing age. I would like to take one of those women and compare how much they've contributed to their company's bottom line and UK growth with that of Godfrey Bloom.

I hope I've answered almost all your questions, I have tried to, happy to have others forwarded on to me. It's been hard work for the hour, but I've enjoyed working with the wonderful team here at Mumsnet.

Could you answer CaptainNancy's question please.

Please tell us how you defend Godfrey Bloom MEP heckling the German MEP Martin Schulz with the words "Ein Volk, ein Reich

I agree. Great PR agreeing that its ok to consider women of childbearing age employable. Way to go Nigel.

Ruddy hell:

Please tell us how you defend Godfrey Bloom MEP heckling the German MEP Martin Schulz with the words "Ein Volk, ein Reich, ein Führer" last November?

"The trouble with Godfrey is that it's not what he says, it's sometimes the way in which he says it."

So "ein volk, ein reich, ein fuhrer" was fine ?????

LOL at everyone on here. Instead of accusing him of baseless extreme problems why don't you ask about things that matter, like your children's future?

Talk about misjudging your audience!

Ummm not sure about the support for your views there Nigel. Someone should tweet Lord Sugar, see if he agrees!

Mr Farage- YOU HAVE BEEN Mumsnetted

This has to go down as the most achingly disastrous webchat of all time.

Can someone tweet Alan Sugar and see if he agrees with never employing a woman of child bearing age?

Cakeywakey: he's not going to answer it because it is indefensible.

Justine, please would you forward on any of the other questions that weren't answered, especially the footnote of Captain Nancy's?

A little more rope wouldn't hurt

NIGEL YOU HAVE ANSWERED THE WRONG QUESTION - YOU KNOW THE ONE WE WANT ANSWERED:

Was it acceptable for Godfrey Bloom to interrupt Schulz and said "Ein Volk, ein Reich, ein Führer"?

Don't think we don't know what you've done there ....

Thanks Nigel, it has been enlightening.

Yes rinse- Children we won't be able to have if SME businesses are allowed to ditch SMP and mat leave rights!