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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:
TeWiharaMeriKirihimete · 01/12/2011 15:36

The square mile companies will never go unless there are massive changes in law made specifically about them. The anomalies in policy surrounding it are huge.

KalSkirata · 01/12/2011 15:44

he answered almost none of the early questions, just those typing now.

Masserrato · 01/12/2011 15:45

Well, that was wishy-washyness to the highest order and tbh I'm surprised he came on / was allowed on when he, really, doesn't have the gumption or personality.

MmeLindor. · 01/12/2011 15:46

Alibaba
No, sorry. Not so easy to hire new ones in Geneva. A small apartment rents here for upwards of CHF 2000. I know someone who works as a paralegal in Geneva and earns CHF 160 000.

There is the staff here, but the banks would be paying much much more for them as they would in London.

Even in Frankfurt, the pay for support staff would be a good bit higher than UK.

AgentProvocateur · 01/12/2011 15:47

lookoveryourshoulder I don't think they have any - that's the problem! Wink

Alibabaandthe80nappies · 01/12/2011 15:49

Mme - I didn't know that, thank you :)

swallowedAfly · 01/12/2011 15:49

kate same as - safe tory seat and the labour candidate didn't even bother turning up on polling day Sad

so same boat.

FelicityNavidad · 01/12/2011 15:51

Oh! Sorry all - my complaint is really for me - as I say I've never had a penny from him anyway. It's more about the inequity of it all than anything else!

FelicityNavidad · 01/12/2011 15:51

*complaint NOT for me

EdithWeston · 01/12/2011 15:51

MMeLindor - true, but Switzerland isn't the only possible bolt hole. HSBC reviews on a regular cycle whether it should move (back) to Hong Kong. If they ever make that decision (and it's the likeliest move) then others might follow. And even partial moves away from London of just some functions would have an effect too. Unless/until other sectors improve, there would be a significant detrimental effect.

Alouisee · 01/12/2011 15:58

That didn't impress me much.

woollyideas · 01/12/2011 15:59

Me too, SaF and Kate. Tory MP since 1945, so no hope there, and Tory/LibDem council. I have never, ever, had so much as a leaflet for Labour at election time. They've obviously decided we're a lost cause!

ShirleyKnot · 01/12/2011 16:09

Campaign thread here BTW

MmeLindor. · 01/12/2011 16:22

Edith
That may be true, but I have heard recently that a lot of companies are moving out of HK at the moment, because of the extremely high cost of living. When you move staff to another country, they generally expect a pretty good expat package, and they are very expensive. Particularly in countries where the accommodation is expensive.

London is extremely expensive, and it is one of the worst countries to work in a "menial office job" as the difference between earnings and cost of living is so high. The banks have a great deal there, imo. Cheap office staff and a few highly paid "experts". In other countries they would pay more for both experts and office staff.

swallowedAfly · 01/12/2011 16:29

woolly - tbh they're all so complacent round here we didn't get a leaflet or sight nor sound of ANY of them. accept the BNP of course Hmm

swallowedAfly · 01/12/2011 16:29

except not accept Blush

Bucharest · 01/12/2011 16:34

justine Thank you! Smile

niceguy2 · 01/12/2011 16:55

So aside from the one specific "policy" of taxing bankers to pay for tackling youth unemployment, was there anything actually specific? That sounds rather populist and I'm sure Labour have used this bankers bonus tax to pay for loads of other things.

And he said on at least two occasions that poor old Mr Osbourne's economic policies have failed because he has to borrow £158 billion a year, he neatly forgets that when they came to power 18 months ago, it was Labour who handed over a £170 billion annual deficit. Given the size of the problem and the state of the world economy, I'd see it as a bloody miracle that the deficit is down at all. Does he seriously expect Gideon to tame the deficit of the last thirty years in 18 months?

Give me a break.

In summary then, Ed's full of wishy washy words and nothing specific other than bash the bankers.

snottynoseseverywhere · 01/12/2011 16:55

Great that Ed came on today - nice to see a politician coming on here at a point when it's not just on their 'lead up to an election' ticklist.

I'm rather disappointed that my Q wasn't answered about how to encourage people to stand for local election - especially as he mentioned at least twice that it's a good way for people to get a start in politics (after all Eric Pickles started off as a Councillor ....)

Have been disappointed quite a few times in webchats with regard to Qs not being answered - I know that the time is limited on them, but today's wasn't the fastest moving chat there's been.

I try to post early so that they can be considered ahead of time - and in case I can't be here when the chat's running - , but even if I am here I try to stick to the rules and not jump up and down waving. Don't really want to do start doing that, but it seems to be only way to get Q answered sometimes.

The other possiblity is that my Qs are so goddam dull they get overlooked on principle Grin

CardyMow · 01/12/2011 17:10

Thank you Ed for at least considering my questions. I feel there has been some very though-provoking questions asked here, and I hope that you will look over the unanswered questions at a later point, and consider all the issues that have been raised.

Oh, and have a Jaffa cake. Grin.

HuntyCat, #frothers.

Alouisee · 01/12/2011 17:22

He might as well have just come on and said "No one cares, we'll do what suits us, not you"

SnakePlisskensMum · 01/12/2011 17:32

NICEGUY2 completely agree

TheRhubarb · 01/12/2011 17:43

Bloody jaffa cakes!

Guess I walked into that one though didn't I?

lubeybaublely · 01/12/2011 17:48

Niceguy:

Labours deficit they left for the tories was only 2.1% of GDP

Compared with 3.9% of GDP left for Labour by the tories in 1997 and when there wasn't any global issue.

nicely demonstrated here

ElderberrySyrup · 01/12/2011 17:48

Does no-one else think the jaffa cakes answer was a mischievous attempt to get us fighting amongst ourselves about the whole cake/biscuit controversy? I think a wicked sense of humour lurks behind that earnest exterior.

He wasn't bad, anyway; not much substance but nothing like as bad as David Cameron's webchat when he was in opposition and ignored the serious questions for the lightweight ones about what music he liked.