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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:
EdMiliband · 01/12/2011 14:14

@JanetNaylor

Do you ever have a solution that doesn't involve spending more taxpayers money that we don't have?

First of all, the government is spending 158bn pounds extra as the price of their economic failure. Putting more money into people's pockets with a cut in VAT, taxing the bankers' bonuses to get the unemployed back to work would help growth and a sustainable deficit plan. We also have to change our economy, for example reforms to the banks so they work properly to help our industrial base and lend to small businesses...

Alibabaandthe80nappies · 01/12/2011 14:15

Ed - how about some specifics? You have had 18 months in Opposition, and so far not been clear on one single thing that you would do if it were you in Number 10 instead of David Cameron.

Does the Labour party have a plan other than 'The Government are wrong'?

lubeybaublely · 01/12/2011 14:15

Dear Ed,

There are some very important questions on the first page of this thread (including mine) Just pointing that out :)

lookoveryourshoulder · 01/12/2011 14:15

.. Please can you tell me where I can find out about specific Labour Policies online.

I have tried the Labour Organisation website but I can't find anywhere on there where it tells me what Labour actually stands for ???

Bucharest · 01/12/2011 14:15

Don't answer any more of hers now please.

wishes · 01/12/2011 14:15

Will Mr Miliband be signing and supporting the forthcoming debate on extradition reform? Does he not agree that imprisonment without trial, and extradition on unsubstantiated allegations are abhorrent and should be abolished?

BCCubitt · 01/12/2011 14:16

The cuts to tax credits announced this week will save £900 million and affects the poorest families. Contrast this with the £900 million that is being spent on the planning stages alone of High Speed Rail 2 in this parliament.

My question for Mr Miliband is this. Does he think the Coalition has their priorities wrong on continuing to spend millions on HS2 while cutting everything else?

northeastofeden · 01/12/2011 14:16

Hi Ed - Thanks for coming back to me - please be more vocal about this stealth tax, and the government's misleading claims. I was quite shocked at some of the blatant untruths being spouted by government ministers.

PS do get more angry, so many of us are thoroughly pissed off with the condems, I voted libdem last election, never again, please give us a strong viable alternative.

Crumblemum · 01/12/2011 14:16

"what we can do will depend on what we inherit". Umm I'm a labour supporter, but isn't that just a tad complacent? Not much room for complacency."

CMOTdibbler · 01/12/2011 14:16

Dear Ed (did you ever actually do anything personally to reduce your carbon footprint btw ? Last time you visited, you told us you couldn't use cloth nappies as you tumble dried everything), Labour had a long time in power to improve things for people with disabilities, but you didn't achieve very much. Where do you think Labour went wrong in this area ?

Alibabaandthe80nappies · 01/12/2011 14:16

How does taxing bankers get the unemployed back to work? Can you explain please?

And the VAT cut wasn't well received by businesses, large or small, because of all the extra workload it gave them.

herbietea · 01/12/2011 14:17

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

shouldnotbehere · 01/12/2011 14:17

oooh, not read thread, will go back through it.

I work in private sector, never worked in public. DH has his own business, where he employs one FT person, and I'm now self employed.

I resent public sector workers thinking they have a right to a job for life and golden handcuff pensions? comments Nobody owns a job.

I don't think there should be such a thing as a career politition. I think all politicians should work in private sector for at least five years Both prime minister and chancellor are career polititions. Are you any better, with experience of private sector? The chancellor has a degree in history, should we have a pre-requisite that chancellors have experience of running a profitable business?

I don't mind paying my taxes. I want the services the government provides. When I've dealt with the public sector, the WASTE, it is horrendous, and widespread. Would love someone to sort this out. I liked David Laws, and was sorry when he left the cabinet.

I resent my money being frittered.

MNHQ
JustineMumsnet · 01/12/2011 14:17

@lubeybaublely

Dear Ed,

There are some very important questions on the first page of this thread (including mine) Just pointing that out :)

Don't worry it's not been missed - Ed's just dived straight in but we will make sure he sees the early ones too.

EdMiliband · 01/12/2011 14:17

@SenseofEntitlement

Labour voter, member and small time activist here - don't you think we need to fight back more strongly? There is a huge amount of support for yesterday's strike action, yet when I tell people to join Labour they don't see how they connect. When you cancelled your appearance at the Durham Miner's Gala, you disappointed those of us who were hoping for a return to Labour's roots - supporting the workers and the disadvantaged, and you haven't done anything to reassure us. Will you be coming out in favour of unions and robust industrial action, or will you stay in the middle and lose voters at one side to the tories and at the other to distrust, apathy and the extreme left?

I understand where you are coming from. The point I made on strikes was that nobody, least of all those who went on strike, wanted them to happen. But they felt they had no alternative. I think you saw pretty clearly at PMQs the difference between me and david cameron...he wanted to demonise those going on strike. I refused to condemn them and say the government must move.

EdMiliband · 01/12/2011 14:18

@woollyideas

Hi Ed and welcome!

@twofingerstoGideon

I would like to know when the Labour Party is going to start providing proper opposition to the coalition. Is this really the time to be sitting on the fence on issues like public sector pensions?

It's important to hold the Government to account for mistakes which take Britain in the wrong direction and damage our country's future. But it's not about complaining for the sake of it. There are steps we should be taking now to get Britain working again and build a better economy for the future - one which works for most people and helps Britain pay its way in the world. As for public sector pensions, I've been clear that a Labour government would have tackled difficult issues like entitlements, contributions and retirement age. But that means negotiations, not the "take it or leave it" final offer tactics this Government has used. That's why I stood up in the Commons yesterday and told David Cameron I would not demonize cleaners, teachers and dinner ladies.

KateMiddIeton · 01/12/2011 14:18

Not a question but a statement: If you worry about what you'll inherit stop them now. Break up the coalition. Do something

pfilfaerie · 01/12/2011 14:18

Why is the government seemingly able to pile drive mad changes through without a by or leave. Will the child benefit cut off point be made fairer, ie total home income rather than one rule for one earner and another for two?

MyRealName · 01/12/2011 14:18

I would like to be a labour voter, but if there was an election tomorrow I would struggle to bring myself to actually vote for a party not knowing what they really stand for. I don't think this is an uncommon view. What will you be doing to make the labour party credible again, and when will you be getting off the fence on a range of issues that affect everyone (the strikes, as one example)?

lubeybaublely · 01/12/2011 14:19

Thanks Justine.

northernmonkey · 01/12/2011 14:20

I second KateMiddleton!

JaxV · 01/12/2011 14:20

KateMiddIeton: "Not a question but a statement: If you worry about what you'll inherit stop them now. Break up the coalition. Do something"

Hear hear!!

EdMiliband · 01/12/2011 14:21

@shouldnotbehere

oooh, not read thread, will go back through it.

I work in private sector, never worked in public. DH has his own business, where he employs one FT person, and I'm now self employed.

I resent public sector workers thinking they have a right to a job for life and golden handcuff pensions? comments Nobody owns a job.

I don't think there should be such a thing as a career politition. I think all politicians should work in private sector for at least five years Both prime minister and chancellor are career polititions. Are you any better, with experience of private sector? The chancellor has a degree in history, should we have a pre-requisite that chancellors have experience of running a profitable business?

I don't mind paying my taxes. I want the services the government provides. When I've dealt with the public sector, the WASTE, it is horrendous, and widespread. Would love someone to sort this out. I liked David Laws, and was sorry when he left the cabinet.

I resent my money being frittered.

Lots of questions here. I think politics is what can change people's lives and I am proud to be in it. Of course it is good to have politicians from different backgrounds--we have Dan Jarvis who used to be in the military and Rachel Reeves who used to be at the Bank of England. But the most important question is not what professions you have been in, but can you understand people's lives and listen. There are people who have done lots of jobs and can't.....

CardyMow · 01/12/2011 14:21

I have to leave in ten minutes to pick up the dc's from school. If I don't respond to the answer to my question - I'm not being rude.

herbietea · 01/12/2011 14:22

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn