Webchat with Deputy Labour Leader Harriet Harman MP; THURSDAY 12 FEBRUARY 12-1pm

[RowanMumsnet]

Deputy Labour leader Harriet Harman MP will be joining us at MNHQ on Thursday 12 February between 12 midday and 1pm.

Harriet is Shadow Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, and Shadow Deputy Prime Minister. She was first elected as an MP aged 32 when she was 7 months pregnant, and her long-term campaigning interests include gender equality, better maternity pay and conditions, and women-only shortlists.

Come and chat to Harriet this Thursday at 12 midday, or post a question in advance on this thread if you can't make it on the day.

Thanks
MNHQ

Er, moancollins don't think ihategeorgeosbourne meant that as an anti-semitic slur - Gideon is his actual first name, George is his middle name.

HH was disgraceful. They're all disgraceful. It's on Guido Fawkes today how Ed and David Milliband used a tax instrument to alter their father's will AFTER HIS DEATH in order to avoid the full whack of inheritance tax on the family home in Primrose Hill when it was subsequently sold.

And yet Red Ed has the gall to lecture others about avoiding tax.

You couldn't make this shit up.

I'm starting to feel more and more backed into a corner. There is nobody at all who is credible, honest and actually worth my vote.

and the next 3 months will be us having to listen to a bunch of televised idiot toffs slinging mud at each other rather than actually doing anything of any use at all. It's a big farce.

What are you talking about moan. I thought antisemitism was racism and prejudice against Jews. I refer to 'Gideon', as that was George Osborne's name, before he changed it for his middle name, George

Thanks bluebird. Sorry, cross-posted. Been putting dcs to bed and was gone a while!

I agree rollon, I think I'm going to have to spoil my ballot. However, I will write something interesting on there too

Gideon is a Jewish name. Mocking someone because they are/were called Gideon and had a Jewish name has very strong anti-semitic overtones whether intentional or not.

Well, come and arrest me. Jesus............

Moan you have completely the wrong end of the stick here. Gideon is often mocked for disguising his toff background by ditching the very obviously quite posh first name Gideon in favour of the 'everyman' alternative George. I.e. like when the politicians claim 'we're all in this together' except we're not because some of them come from massively privileged backgrounds - massive wallpaper company fortune in the case of Gideon.

Back on track, I'm also spoiling my ballot. Have a bit of an essay planned actually.

Is the number of spoiled ballot papers recorded and released to the hoi polloi?

I see you're now being racist against Christians ihategeorgeosborne. You naughty naughty person you.

It's a Jewish name. Gideon is not a particularly posh name, it's a Jewish name. I have a Jewish background and I find it really offensive, just because some people don't know why they're supposed to find the name Gideon so amusing doesn't mean that the whole culture of mocking him for having the name Gideon doesn't have anti-semitic undertones. And it does.

Would you find it acceptable to mock a politician who had been called, perhaps Abdul, or Mohammed, or Aziz?

I think it is rollon. They might dedicate a whole program to reading out what the hoi polloi have written on their ballot papers. Now that would be entertaining! Thanks again bluebird. I had no intention of racism and I know most of you knew why I used the name 'Gideon'.

nauticant

Here's a spade MoanCollins. Oh, I see you're already well-equipped.

If they had no idea how to do their job and were a complete dick, yes I probably would moan

Gideon - would think posh rather than jewish = some people LOOK for offence

is G.O Jewish?

A whole program? Not on the beeb though, probably. On Comedy Central!?

Ooh yes, a special Panorama on what people have written on their ballot papers! That would be amazing!

Terrible anti-Semitism:

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gideon_%28TV_series%29

Gideon's abnormality was the subject of cruel taunts and jibes from the other ducks

Well, that was a PR disaster. Not surprised though, politicians never give straight answers.

Also not surprised to hear Ed and David avoided tax.

They are all greedy self serving hypocrites. I'll spoil my ballot paper unless I have to vote tactically to keep UKIP out. How bloody depressing.

Was it a deed of variation or something else?

How disappointing. For a woman who claims she wants to involve women in politics, she made no great effort to engage, avoided every direct question and probably lost a number of voters.

No effort to answer my question.