Webchat with Deputy Labour Leader Harriet Harman MP; THURSDAY 7 AUGUST 10.30 - 11.30AM

[KateHMumsnet]

Deputy Labour leader Harriet Harman MP will be joining us at MNHQ on Thursday 7 August between 10.30 - 11.30AM.

Harriet is Shadow Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport and Shadow Deputy Prime Minister, she headed Labour's response to the Leveson inquiry and recently made headlines for speaking out about sexism and inequality in Gordon Brown's government.

Harriet was first elected as an MP aged 32 when she was 7 months pregnant, and has long campaigned for gender equality, better maternity pay and conditions and is a long term advocate of women-only shortlists to increase the number for female MPs.

Come and chat to Harriet this Thursday at 10.30AM or do post a question in advance on this thread.

[Darkesteyes]

Really sorry I missed this webchat.


Another well done to AskBasil from me.

[CaptChaos]

jennyohenry... I have no idea what you are talking about. I am not a 'mens rights activist'.

For someone who claims not to be an MRA, you're sure able to write out their scripts.

Did you want an extinguisher for your undergarments?

[Snapespeare]

A shame this was so short. I tend toward Harriet as a mix of grown-up hermoine grainger and our version of Hillary Clinton.

Please do get her back during the election campaign if you can MNHQ.

[WorkingBling]

I can't believe I missed that this was happening today. I'm a fan, particularly after the speech about Gordon Brown. I'm sorry I didn't see it and thank you for getting her on to talk. Can she come back during the election please?

PS if she was the labour leader I'd be far more inclined to go back to labour. Right now I'm feeling lost in a sea of parties that do nothing to inspire me and my decision making is coming down to individual politicians who inspire me. Most of whom are women. And a disturbing number of whom are conservatives.

[Blondieminx]

Agree Miliband just hasn't got "it"! I fear so much of the electorate is so disillusioned by politics especially post austerity/expenses scandal that we'll see higher than ever figures for people who didn't vote at the GE 2015.

AskBasil just wanted to thank you for tackling the claptrap displayed by "Jenny" so eloquently

[jonicomelately]

There isn't a snowball's chance in hell Milliband win the next election. He is the wrong man for the job. Nothin to do with the way he sounds or looks. I don't understand why senior Labour politicians can't see it

[HarrietHarmanMP7630]

Signing off now but hope to chat again soon. Thanks everyone for all your comments and questions. It's been great to come in to Mumsnet and see the team here!

[HarrietHarmanMP7630]

@DanSmith

Hi Harriet - if Ed loses in 2015 (fingers crossed he won't), will you be throwing your hat in the ring?

Unlike the Tories, we're not preparing to lose, we're fighting to win! So while the Tories are lining themselves up for who will succeed Cameron when he loses, we're lining ourselves up to ensure Ed Miliband wins and becomes Prime Minister!

[AskBasil]

That's fine Mitchell, you don't have to join in.

[femin]

Harriet, Do you want to come to the national radical feminist conference in London on the 30th and 31st of August? Speakers include Germaine Greer, Janice Raymond, Julie Bindel and Femi Otitoju. We will give you a free ticket.

www.femifest2014.com/programme/4585584126

[HarrietHarmanMP7630]

@Spiritedwolf

Hello Harriet thanks for coming on to talk to us.

Id like to see sales people off of maternity wards - as far as I am aware people aren't subjected to pressure sales tactics to give up personal data on other wards. Having a baby isn't aways a fluffy experience, women on post natal wards can be recovering from major operations or exhausting VBs, they shouldn't have to fend off sales people who are there to harvest personal data.

See Mumsnets Bounty Mutiny Campaign

Our Health Spokesperson, Andy Burnham MP is shortly meeting Mumsnet to discuss this important campaign

[Mitchell50]

AskBasil and Jenny - not interested in a fight, thanks.

[SunnyL]

Harriet I work in international development where the issue of gender is pervasive in most programmes and projects funded thanks to the Millennium Development Goals. In fact its one of the key indicators I have to report against in most projects I work on.

Do you think there should be similar gender style indicators for domestic policies and programmes?

[AskBasil]

Jenny you are very obviously hijacking the webchat for your own agenda.

If you think everyone's stupid and can't see that, you are even more hopeless than the average MRA.

Would you like to tell us why poor men need Harriet Harman and other female politicians to stand up for them, seeing as how the poor dears can't stand up for themselves? What with the majority of people in leadership positions in parliament and other representative bodies, medicine, law, business, military, and finance having penises and all?

By the way Harriet, sorry for hijacking away but I think if MN are going to let Jenny hijack this webchat, then the rest of us should be able to argue with him/ her.

[Spiritedwolf]

Can Labour commit to removing sales people from our wards? How else will Labour improve maternity services for women and their babies? I feel there has to be more listening to what women need - whether that's better facilities for supporting waterbirths or better provision of pain relief. More support in the early days of breastfeeding to help women who want to EBF achieve it would be welcome too.

[HarrietHarmanMP7630]

@MrsSchadenfreude

Hello Harriet,

How damaging do you think UKIP will be to the Tory vote in the next election?

What's hurting the Tories is that they are totally out of touch and they don't realise that people are worse off than they were and are struggling. As for UKIP, I think their policies would make things worse and are very divisive and negative. But it's down to us to ensure that people know that we are on their side and do have answers to the problems like freezing energy bills, building more homes and more childcare.

[Spiritedwolf]

Hello Harriet thanks for coming on to talk to us.

Id like to see sales people off of maternity wards - as far as I am aware people aren't subjected to pressure sales tactics to give up personal data on other wards. Having a baby isn't aways a fluffy experience, women on post natal wards can be recovering from major operations or exhausting VBs, they shouldn't have to fend off sales people who are there to harvest personal data.

See Mumsnets Bounty Mutiny Campaign

[MrsSchadenfreude]

[HarrietHarmanMP7630]

@MrsSchadenfreude

Where's Harriet gone? Has Justine opened the biscuit tin?

No, and I hope she won't as I'm on a diet!

[jennyohenry]

AskBasil - I have no idea what you are talking about. I am not a 'mens rights activist'.

I have two boys, one girl, and I am concerned for my boys' futures. I also have a brother who has been the victim of some nasty things in his life, and this chat offered the opportunity to address some of my concerns with Harriet

Women do not have it made. Men do not have it made. We all face issues. If my concern for people without penises offends you, then that's a problem with you, not me.

[HarrietHarmanMP7630]

@Bumblebzz

Harriet

Have you any ideas on how to encourage men to share maternity leave with their partners? The legislation is there but the take-up is terribly small. From personal experience I think the main reason is that men are afraid to request leave in case it gives the impression they are not dedicated to their work. And so the status quo does not change much, despite the changes in the law, women are still the default child carers, in employers' eyes as well as everyone else's.
Thanks

Yes its hard for men to "break the mould" and ask for family leave. And in many families the fact that the man earns more means that it's unaffordable for him to take the time off. But it was/is difficult for women at work. And we fought for more rights. So men should do the same for their right to balance their work with their family responsibilities.

[AskBasil]

Nah MrsS, she's opened the popcorn bag.

[HarrietHarmanMP7630]

@woeface

Hello Harriet

I was genuinely shocked by your recent speech in which you describe how vicious (and bloody childish) sexism can be in politics - even at a high level. It makes me feel utterly hopeless. Clearly politicians on both sides pay lip service to equality - but don't actually believe in it. What can be done?

Don't feel hopeless! We've made a lot of progress. But we need to make more. Things are better than they were but still by no means acceptable yet. What can be done is by everyone in whatever role they play, in whatever walk of life, standing up against sexism and unfairness.

[MrsSchadenfreude]

Where's Harriet gone? Has Justine opened the biscuit tin?

[AskBasil]

Jenny why the fuck should Harriet Harman stand up and speak for men in parliament? Do you think there aren't enough men there to stand up and speak for them?

FFS, the entitlement of MRA's knows no sodding bounds.

Women: always remember that you must not give any focus or priority to your human rights, until you have sorted out men's human rights first.

DFO, TAD