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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:
reelingintheyears · 01/12/2011 15:11

So she is an MNer then..Grin

Alibabaandthe80nappies · 01/12/2011 15:11

northeastofeden - it is all very well to say 'yes we would have made cuts too', but Labour never say what they would have cut. Everything that is being cut they say 'the government is wrong', which leads you to think they wouldn't cut anything.

I genuinely cannot see why, in 18 months of Opposition, Ed and his shadow cabinet have not been able to put a credible program together of where they think the cuts should have taken place, along with some figures of how they would have funded the areas they wouldn't cut.

SaF - I wasn't rude, I just disagreed.

lookoveryourshoulder · 01/12/2011 15:12

.... pretty please (and sorry to repeat myself) but where can I find out what Labour Policies are - preferably online . thank you...

northeastofeden · 01/12/2011 15:12

Bible and portrait both disgusting, I agree, what a waste of money.

I am off now, but thanks once again to Ed, I think you have come across really well.

EdMiliband · 01/12/2011 15:12

@HuntyCat

What do you think about the fact that some of the poorest families in Britain are going to be faced with stark choices next year when the Tax Credits cuts start to bite? I personally will have to make a choice between only putting half a week's electric on the meter, or not buying ANY food for my family for one day a week - that is the difference that uprating TC's at LESS than the CPI will make. There IS no wriggle room in my budget, and nowhere else to cut costs except on essential utilities or food.

Do you plan to try to get the current Government to uprate Tax Credits in line with the CPI as promised or not?

One of the most disgraceful things the government has done is to cut tax credits this week. one billion pounds taken away from poorest families and research we are releasing today shows that 77% of the tax rises and cuts announced on Tuesday fall on women and only 23% on men.So much for the government understanding lives and needs of women. And by the way, they have delayed tax on private jets so there can be smooth transition!

swallowedAfly · 01/12/2011 15:12

no you accused someone of being sexist and patronising on the basis of their punctuation. that's not disagreeing so much as.... meh. whatever. talking to tories gives me headaches.

woollyideas · 01/12/2011 15:13

I agree with Kate - #frothers must be apolitical because there must be high numbers of ConDem supporters who are also beginning to froth and we need to get them on board, as well.

[disclaimer - definitely not a ConDem myself...]

caramelwaffle · 01/12/2011 15:13

That'll be a yes then...

And on to getting Britain working - 100% tax deductible childcare (?)

BCCubitt · 01/12/2011 15:14

You say you are for spending £900m on HS2 in this parliament, £34bn in total, yet then you say "One of the most disgraceful things the government has done is to cut tax credits this week. one billion pounds taken away from poorest families". Where will the money come from for HS2?

EdMiliband · 01/12/2011 15:14

@lookoveryourshoulder

.... pretty please (and sorry to repeat myself) but where can I find out what Labour Policies are - preferably online . thank you...

labour.org.uk

sandysmum · 01/12/2011 15:15

hello
again, Mr Milliband! After your point to Iggly re the lady earning £1100 per month , I am going to bite the bullet !!! My husband pays himself £800 per month - £120 which goes on a pension - we do not receive tax credits as he is self employed so his profit share is seen as his income. However he need this £ to feed cattle, sheep and fuel his guzzling tractors. He has to various tasks set by a myriad of govt agencies(created by your last govt!). And he will be trying to do a very physical job until he is nearly 70. Have you tried rolling out a one tonne straw bale at your age - exhausting at 30 something.

What can you do to help farmers -Labour never seems tohave an interest in agriculture???

Please answer my question

HugosGoatee · 01/12/2011 15:16

Eh? How can you agree with Afghanistan?

Feels like a macho thing, that if you don't support wars you're not viable to run a country. Very American.

swallowedAfly · 01/12/2011 15:16

aargh!! going to be late for school. just in case anyone else has missed this fact - SCHOOL! luckily only 5mins away. thank you ed and well done for getting through so many q's. good luck and do try and answer the q about how to get into politics for us less conventional types Smile

EdMiliband · 01/12/2011 15:17

@sandysmum

hello again, Mr Milliband! After your point to Iggly re the lady earning £1100 per month , I am going to bite the bullet !!! My husband pays himself £800 per month - £120 which goes on a pension - we do not receive tax credits as he is self employed so his profit share is seen as his income. However he need this £ to feed cattle, sheep and fuel his guzzling tractors. He has to various tasks set by a myriad of govt agencies(created by your last govt!). And he will be trying to do a very physical job until he is nearly 70. Have you tried rolling out a one tonne straw bale at your age - exhausting at 30 something.

What can you do to help farmers -Labour never seems tohave an interest in agriculture???

Please answer my question

I understand the difficulties that farmers have been through. And indeed how difficult it is for anyone self-employed to get a decent pension. That needs to be addressed but levelling down the public sector pension in the way the government is doing is a bad answer.....

northeastofeden · 01/12/2011 15:17

Sorry alibaba I just saw your comment - that is a fair point, and I agree that Labour need to get a bit less woolly on lots of things. My original comment was in relation to kettlecrisps effectively saying that Labour were acting as though the deficit didn't exist - which is untrue.

FelicityNavidad · 01/12/2011 15:18

AS it's slowing down now, Ed could you please look at the question about the CSA upthread?

I'd love to hear your take on Firefly2's question.

KateMiddIeton · 01/12/2011 15:19

Yes that is an awesome question about CSA.

EdMiliband · 01/12/2011 15:20

@swallowedAfly

aargh!! going to be late for school. just in case anyone else has missed this fact - SCHOOL! luckily only 5mins away. thank you ed and well done for getting through so many q's. good luck and do try and answer the q about how to get into politics for us less conventional types Smile

Thanks. Haven't seen the question. Best to join the labour party and become a councillor.....

Bucharest · 01/12/2011 15:20

And I am one of the 2 (AFAIK) people on this thread who voted for you. (was it me mentioning Ann Widdecomb that put you off? Are you scrubbing your eyes with a brillo pad?)

EdMiliband · 01/12/2011 15:21

@LindsayWagner

Hello Ed, thanks for coming back!

Are you supporting the Mumsnet's Campaign for Better Miscarriage Care? I know as Leader of the Opposition you can't sign EDMs - but is there anything else you can do to help get the Miscarriage Code of Care implemented nationally?

Am very supportive of the campaign.

MincePieFlavouredVoidka · 01/12/2011 15:21

Thank you for answering one of the many questions about disabled children and their carers. There are alot of us out there that are very worried.

BIWI · 01/12/2011 15:21

... and I'm the other one, Bucharest!

EdMiliband · 01/12/2011 15:21

@JanetNaylor

Hello Mr Miliband. Bankers Bonus Tax. What would be the tenth spending commitment for this and how much would it be for?

Our bankers' bonus tax would be used to fund 100,000 jobs for young people and build 25,000 more affordable homes. That's a good policy - in contrast to what this government is doing in giving the banks a tax cut this year while piling on the bills for everyone else.

JaxV · 01/12/2011 15:22

I have to go now but thanks. Still not convinced Labour have any real answers and i'm quite disapointed about your stance on Afghanistan - do you get handed the information you base your opinion on or have you done your own research? If the former, I suggest you do the legwork and think for yourself instead of being told what to think.

KateMiddIeton · 01/12/2011 15:22

Chance of being elected a labour councillor where I live (London Borough of Richmond) as a labour candidate about 0. Is yellow and blue all the way here. Currently rather blue. Pun intended.

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