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

Do you think Keith Vaz should be taken off the enquiry into a suspected elite peadophile ring after releasing details of the victims who have come forward which jeopardised their safety ?

I would like to ask why all political parties think it's ok to push women back to work. I think it's very important for a mother to be there when the child goes to school and to collect or be at home when they return. There is very little provision for school hours, term time only work, even within a school setting.

Hi, how lovely to be in the Mumsnet office here in North London. Looking forward to responding to as many as possible of your posts.

You, as a parent of grammar school children, have seen your children benefit from such an education. Would your party be looking to open up more grammar schools. If not, how do you square the party's line with your decision to send your children to grammar school.

@TiggyD

Is childcare 'woman's work'?

If not, how do you propose to solve issue of early years education/childcare having a workforce that's currently only 2% male?

Crucial Question! There's caring for children within the family and outside the family. Of course every child has 2 parents and its important for them to be cared for and have a strong relationship with both. Every child should be entitled to that. It used to be that men were expected to "bring home the bacon" and women keep the home. But now men are much more involved with their children when they are young - and that's great. And many more women are working when they have young children and making a much bigger contribution to the family income. But there's still an unequal "division of labour" in the home with the mother taking more of the day to day responsibility. And more likely to be taking time off with the baby and working part-time when the kids are young and the world of work penalises that with low pay and fewer job opportunities which isn't right. And that "division of labour in the home" is what underpins 1)the assumption that childcare (in nurseries etc) is women's work and that 2)it doesn't matter if its low paid. Which is wrong!! So I'm in favour of men being able to take more time with their babies and a culture change which allows men to be able to work flexibly without jeopardising their work/income and I'm in favour of women and men working in childcare and it being recognised as a highly important role.

That response didn't answer Tiggy's question at all. We're all 'in favour' of those things, but you were asked how you would solve them. If you can't answer the first question you're asked Harriet, this doesn't bode well.

apparently children aren't even entitled to maintenance from their father's so i don't know how they're meant to be entitled to 'care' from them. do hope that indicates that labour would want to reverse the decision to charge women for seeking maintenance and take a cut from any money they do manage to receive for their chidren's upkeep though.

@dreamingaboutcheese

Why on earth would you send round a pink bus to talk to women - did you not realise that it would hijack the news agenda over and above the important issues that you need to talk about? Did you really think wrapping something in pink will attract female voters? I would love to know the logic behind this move.

So here's how it came about....we wanted the bus to be eye-catching and instantly recognisable as it goes around the country. It couldn't be blue (Tory) yellow (lib dem). We've used the strong pink (as well as red) for a couple of years now. You can see it as the backdrop for our annual conference 2014. The news agenda ought to be about the fact that at the last general election 9 million women (even more than men) did not think it was even worth voting. I want women to know that there are women in politics as well as men and that we are listening to them (you) understanding their (your) lives and there to do whatever it takes to back you up. We want women to use their vote and not give up on politics

Will women shadow cabinet ministers feature prominently in the election campaign or will they just be used for "window dressing"?

In 2000 you were Solicitor General. The recent Attorney General and Solicitor General, who seemed more pro human rights, got the boot and some less pro people are now in their place. What is your view on human rights legislation and the UK?

I suspect a lot of people (which includes women) are giving up on voting because we're completely disillusioned with the state of politics in this country due to issues like the expenses scandal. It appears to the average member of the public that most MPs are extremely self serving (voting yourselves an 11% pay rise for example) and have no clue about 'normal' every day life.

A pink minibus isn't going to change anyone's mind I'm afraid and simply gives the impression that you think we're all stupid.

Is that it? Two questions answered?

What's wrong with red for the bus?

or a nice feminist classic image like the wartime sleeves up woman and 'labour needs you!' above it.

nah just make it a pretty pink colour, that's what wimmen want isn't it? make it girly.

Hello
My values tend to align most closely with Labour values. In the place I grew up, Rotherham, there have been labour councillors who appear to have no values at all, let alone Labour values.
How does the labour leadership intend to deal with such people, and convince people in historic labour strongholds that it cares more about party values than personal gain?
Currently a fan of SarahChampion MP by the way - to try to be a little positive!

ahh unless they've given up on us harridans and are just courting the hair extensions and 'pole dancing is empowering' vote now?

I suspect that if people were able to vote via social media then the number of people voting in the general election would be much much higher!

I was really hoping for an answer to mine about the Coalitions war on the disabled and what Labour intends to do about this. It is really relevant to a lot of people at the moment due to them being hounded off their sickness benefits by people ticking boxes behind a desk. ATOS were truly awful and i'm not convinced the new private company are going to be any different or better.

Quick question that requires either a yes or no answer -

Will you be taking the 11% pay rise?

Hello - Harriet's doing her own typing so things are a little slower than normal (we usually do guests' typing for them) - please bear with us, we'll try to get through as many as possible.

I don't know how I'm going to vote, I don't feel that any party is on my side.

This thread was started by someone who says they don't know much about politics www.mumsnet.com/Talk/_chat/2303916-I-really-dont-know-who-to-vote-for

Well I am interested in politics, I'm looking for someone to vote for.

@Hamiltoes

What will Labour do to fix the gap between housing costs and wages?

Does Labour agree that a full time wage should be enough to provide adequate housing without the need of housing benefit?

What is Labour going to do to win Scotland back from the SNP, do you think Labour are out of touch with the Scottish electorate?

Yes, a full time wage should be enough to pay for housing. And that's about pay and about housing costs. It's not right that so many people who are working hard can't live on what they earn - so have to claim tax credits. And so many can't afford housing costs - and have to claim housing benefit. And then it's even worse when the Government points to the cost of tax credits and housing benefits and shouts about "scroungers"! That's why we introduced the minimum wage and why if we get in again we'll increase it and make sure it's enforced. And why we think employers should pay a"living wage". Shouldn't, for example, Premier League football clubs who've just got billions from selling TV rights pay all who work in the club a living wage? And housing costs (rent and purchase price) are so mad particularly in London and the South East because there's not been enough home building - and that's why we'd ensure that 200,000 homes would be built each year. And that we ensure more economic growth and job prospects outside London and the South East to "rebalance the economy"
Re scotland we've got a great new team leading Labour in Scotland - Jim and Kezia - and with our Labour MPs, councillors and MSPs they are working hard to speak up for people in Scotland and the concerns they have.

Technical hitch ?

Personally, I would like a party with Left wing policies to vote for. Labour's swing to the right has left me feeling abandoned.

CFS i would vote for anyone who said

-they'd reverse the decision to charge children for accessing maintenance from absent parent and to take a cut out of their maintenance every single month

-they would not try (again) to ban HE

-they would cease the evil war on the disabled

-would cease the horrible target culture in job centres that has seen women sanctioned for not being able to hide the fact they are pregnant at interview

i was going to continue but actually even that would do me at this stage.