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WEBCHAT GUIDELINES: 1. One question per member plus one follow-up. 2. Keep your question brief. 3. Don't moan if your question doesn't get answered. 4. Do be civil/polite. 5. If one topic or question threatens to overwhelm the webchat, MNHQ will usually ask for people to stop repeating the same question or point.

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MNHQ

Live webchat with Ed Miliband, Labour leader and Leader of the Opposition, Thursday 1st Dec at 1.45pm

488 replies

KatieMumsnet · 30/11/2011 13:49

We're very pleased to announce that Labour leader, Ed Miliband will be joining us for a webchat this Thursday between 1.45pm and 2.45pm.

Ed is MP for Doncaster, former Minister for Energy and Climate change and won the Labour leadership in the autumn of 2010. He's keen to hear your views and answer any of your questions.

Do join us for the webchat. As ever, if you can't make it, please post up your advance questions here.

Thanks,

MNHQ

OP posts:
HugosGoatee · 01/12/2011 14:41

Do you agree with tax relief on biscuits pretending to be cakes?

MincePieFlavouredVoidka · 01/12/2011 14:41

Having said that - DV said Oatcakes didnt he. Hmm

kettlecrisps · 01/12/2011 14:41

The global perception that we are able to deal with this deficit is essential. Economies thrive/die on confidence and the perception of it. It is essential we act on tackling the deficit. The mess we would be in if we lose the perception we are coping with our debt is unthinkable.

Why are you playing politics over this issue. We have seen countries in Europe across the political divide have to unite and explain to the country clearly there is no alternative.

Labour are playing a dangerous game- the government are being the strict mummy and handing out the discipline and medicine but Labour are playing the good time Daddy turning up and acting like Mummy's making rather a fuss over nothing! We all know it ends in tears. Is this not an issue to be a grown up about?

Why can't Labour be honest over this issue? Would you rather see the country implode under the idea that there is actually some golden alternative? There isn't. It's shit either way. The country needs to appear united and strong. Do you realise how damaging you are being to the global perception.

FelicityNavidad · 01/12/2011 14:41

JAFFA CAKE?

That's a CAKE not a biscuit. Grin

Christ, I can just see it now on the front page of the Daily Mail "Milliband lies to middle classes about biscuit preference - EVIL!"

TheRhubarb · 01/12/2011 14:41

Oh. My. God.

Justine - you are EVIL!

EdMiliband · 01/12/2011 14:41

@swallowedAfly

please, please, please find a minute or two to write some advise to those of us who are really ready and willing to act to get rid of this government - how do we influence things and what would help.

a group of us are really keen to do everything we can about this now before they can bring through their latest cuts and schemes in ways that can't be reversed.

sorry to jump up and down like a child who needs a wee but it's important Grin

Maybe you would expect me to say it, but joining the Labour Party, standing for the council, and being part of our campaigns will make a difference. We have 65,000 new members...Smile

KateMiddIeton · 01/12/2011 14:42

So many important questions up the thread... Not one about biscuits Sad

lubeybaublely · 01/12/2011 14:42

Argh @ biscuit talk when I'm still awaiting many of the first page questions to be answered (including mine)

Do you know how many men on twitter think all we do is ask questions about biscuits? Ignoring all the decent, relevant questions we have asked. Doing nothing for ourselves here

KalSkirata · 01/12/2011 14:42

just popped in to see if nappy question for disabled children answred.

caramelwaffle · 01/12/2011 14:43

"northernmonkey Thu 01-Dec-11 14:39:38
Rhubarb should go sit in the corner now!!!!!!"

Absolutely not; I am waiting to sneak in a second question at the end regarding Bucks fizz on Christmas morning: Yay, or nay?

JaxV · 01/12/2011 14:43

Felicity - perhaps its because i'm not middle class but I couldnt give a stuff about the classification of jafa cakes raspberry

Noodlemacdoodle · 01/12/2011 14:43

The headteacher in questions was explaining he is making redundancies in teaching staff fue to budget cuts next academic year. Therefore he was not interested in taking on a child with SN because they would be a 'drain' I was gob smacked and Sad and Shock and Angry. I'm glad people on here share those emotions, but would be interested to hear what Ed has to say as it is actually a common disease and i heard somewhere something like 1/3 of adults will die of cancer in the future, so it is actually really important to get thsi on the agenda of the world leading NHS. It would also make economic sense for the UK as we could then market our medical experitse overseas, I would have thought ... Ed???

swallowedAfly · 01/12/2011 14:43

well yes but how do we make the liberals wake up and stop this mess?

thanks for answering - wouldn't want to cause a puddle in here Grin

EdMiliband · 01/12/2011 14:44

@PetiteRaleuse

Dear Mr Miliband,

Our current 'government' is starting to make some scary noises about Iran, despite having cut the defence budgets.

If the worst was to happen and they drag us into another pointless war on the US behalf, please can you confirm that you would oppose this? I am aware the last two weren't your fault so won't have a go at you for TB's war lust. But out of interest, did you support those wars?

The first thing I would say is that the attack on our embassy this week was appalling. I am glad the Government has made this clear to the regime.

Our embassy staff are men and women doing their jobs far from home and their safety must be ensured at all times.

The important thing for stability in the region is to continue efforts to ensure that Iran is never able to gain access to nuclear weapons.

I was against the war in Iraq but I support our mission in Afghanistan. I've been there and witnessed first hand what a brilliant job they're doing, risking their lives on our behalf. I know how much we owe them and how important it is that they know people at home are supporting them.

Alibabaandthe80nappies · 01/12/2011 14:44

Hear hear kettlecrisps.

notsomumsie · 01/12/2011 14:44

What's the strategy for winning the next election Ed?

MNHQ
JustineMumsnet · 01/12/2011 14:44

@FelicityNavidad

Ooh Rhubs, you are NORTY.

I think everyone needs to calm down a bit and let him answer some more questions before C+P their stuff again otherwise it just gets far too difficult.

Quite right, it doesn't help if you do this, just makes answering the questions harder.

EdMiliband · 01/12/2011 14:44

@HuntyCat

I have copied my question from pg 2:

What is Labour doing to oppose the Coalition with regards to leaving people with disabilities with no income. By leaving them with no income, I mean people being refused ESA as they are not 'disabled enough', but also being refused JSA as they are not fit for FT work. While they are appealing the ESA refusal, they may have 6 months plus with no income. Do you have any plans to try to get the Coalition to close this loophole?

HuntyCat, #frothers.

I know lots of people are worried about the way the medical tests are being done and the new rules. It is something we are pressing the government on. I will look into the specific issue you raise....

HugosGoatee · 01/12/2011 14:44

If you think that the angry posters should join the Labour party, you need to show them that you feel the same. Have you read the thread 'Frothing Beserkers' on here? I suggest you do. People are angry at their betrayal by the government, they want honest, angry politics.

FelicityNavidad · 01/12/2011 14:45

uh, it was a joke aimed at the Daily Mail always saying that MN is stuffed to the brim with MC Mummies Jax.

Of course we all want answers to our questions, but let's be honest - probably not going to happen is it?

northernmonkey · 01/12/2011 14:45

caramelwaffle
You dont need the answer to that question, Its christmas morning, ITS THE LAW to drink Bucks Fizz

Now I am with katemiddleton. Lots of important qs to answer

EdMiliband · 01/12/2011 14:46

@kettlecrisps

The global perception that we are able to deal with this deficit is essential. Economies thrive/die on confidence and the perception of it. It is essential we act on tackling the deficit. The mess we would be in if we lose the perception we are coping with our debt is unthinkable.

Why are you playing politics over this issue. We have seen countries in Europe across the political divide have to unite and explain to the country clearly there is no alternative.

Labour are playing a dangerous game- the government are being the strict mummy and handing out the discipline and medicine but Labour are playing the good time Daddy turning up and acting like Mummy's making rather a fuss over nothing! We all know it ends in tears. Is this not an issue to be a grown up about?

Why can't Labour be honest over this issue? Would you rather see the country implode under the idea that there is actually some golden alternative? There isn't. It's shit either way. The country needs to appear united and strong. Do you realise how damaging you are being to the global perception.

You clearly don't agree with us! The deficit matters but without growth it can't be tackled. Hence the government's failure....

Noodlemacdoodle · 01/12/2011 14:46

ahem...

swallowedAfly · 01/12/2011 14:48

oh yes huntycat!! a couple committed suicide over that Sad they went through hell stuck on the not disabled enough/not well enough fence - absolutely tragic.

Alibabaandthe80nappies · 01/12/2011 14:48

Ed the rather patronising ..... at the end of answers to questions from people who clearly disagree with you is not endearing.

Would you do it if you were responding to a man?

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