Q&A with Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg - catch up here

[KateMumsnet]

Hello all

At lunchtime today we'll be holding a live, in-person Q&A session with Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg, with an audience composed entirely of Mumsnetters.

With luck (and a decent wireless connection) we'll be live-blogging the whole thing, so do join us between 12.45 and 2pm to hear how the DPM responds to MNers' searching questions - and let us know what you think as the session unfolds.

Do you have your CV ready for after the election?

Love to join in. How do i go about this please? X

What do you think about the fact that only rich people can now afford a decent education for their children? If you're rich enough you send your kids to independent school. If you're rich enough you buy a (very expensive) house next to good state school so you're right in the catchment area. Earn the UK's average salary, but can't afford independent school or an expensive house? Then you fight it out for what's left and where I live that's just lots and lots of "Trojan horse" schools.

Ok please nick what is the libs going to do about the situation re the cost of private renting. The buy to let market has increased (a long with other reasons) the cost of a flat and house which is the main reason we have now left london. This must be some control on this situation. I heard landlords who have a huge portfolio of properties all removed from the home owner market. Thanks x

how do you feel about riding on a no tuition fees ticket and then reneging on that as soon as you had a sniff of power?

I have voted since I turned 18. For the last 15 year's I have voted lib dem. Convince me to stick with you.

My values? I am slightly left of centre, I value being part of Europe, the environment, equality, fairness. I value working hard and being rewarded for it. I value state support for those who genuinely need it. I value the NHS, free at the point of need. I value high quality state (ie free) education.

I can't bear Tory idealogy and the Eds are too far to the left. So why should I vote for you instead of spoiling my ballot?

do the LibDems still leave any controversial policy opinions 'up to individual MPs?'

Why did Ed Davey state that he would block attempts by Labour to reduce tuition fees in any future coalition?

What could the LibDems do to support and finance early intervention for mental health issues (CAMHS) in young people? My child is getting worse while waiting for therapy and it's so shortsighted - if she ends up with an entrenched mental health issue it will cost society more than early support would now.
Thank you.

Before the last election a number of people I know voted Lib Dem. They feel utterly betrayed by your and your party's behaviour since joining the coalition.

I understand that you were desperate to get some power at any cost. I know that power corrupts. But did you really, really not see that throwing everything down the toilet for the sake of some power would end in tears? Really? Don't you wake up at three in the morning, hold your head in the hands, gaze into the abyss and think "what in the name of the sweet baby jesus have I done?"

And what on earth does your wife think about your abandonment of all personal and political integrity?

Was Cameron right to say he won't lead the Tories for another term? If you get re-elected what are your leadership plans?

I could think of a few but as I'm limited to one...

What do you think of the polls which suggest the British public are on the whole so much more left-wing than our government tompride.wordpress.com/2015/03/14/surprising-polls-show-british-public-considerably-more-left-wing-than-main-parties/ ? Do you think that this is a healthy state for a self-described democracy, 'representative' as the common excuse has it or no? What is your party going to do about the mismatch?

And sorry MN I can't resist - Just why? Why did you do it? Why did you shore up this coalition for 5 long years, 5 years of increasing inequality, 5 years of benefit sanctions for the poorest resulting in pain, despair and death for many especially disabled, the huge upsurge in food bank usage, the increasing housing problem, the education fees issue, the cost of living crisis (among so many other problems)? You could have pulled out at any time given what it is and was demonstrably and obviously doing to the country. We all know the tories are the enemies but you and Labour are both culpable now, and have left the country with no alternatives.

I have voted lib dem in the past. I will not be doing so this time.

Hello

Thanks for the extra questions - we're going to have a room full (filling up nicely now!) of MNers all ready to ask questions so we can't promise we'll be able to get Nick to answer questions from the thread as well, we're afraid, although we'll do our best of course.

We'll start posting on here when we're ready to go!

Please ask him mine. I really want to know what he thinks in those three in the morning staring into the abyss moments.

ask him mine it is a reasonable question.

How does it feel to see what austerity has done to this country, knowing that you occupy a position of privilege? This government has a knack for demonising citizens, rather than helping everyone live together. So how does it feel, when you close down vital parts of the NHS only to find that A&Es across the country are overcrowded and under resourced? How does it feel to know that tens of thousands of young people graduate every year with so much private debt that they might never be free of it?

I see you on PMQs time and again looking like you'd rather be anywhere else. Frankly I don't blame you.

Why do you still allow John Hemming to have the Lib Dem whip?

In the last 4 years with a hung parliament, it seems that the lib dems have done very little. In particular you have prevented a fairer system of voting, by opposing the changes to the house of commons boundaries for the 2015 election. This seemed like the lib dems throwing their toys out the pram, due to opposition against the house of lords reform.

Why did you oppose the boundary changes? They were recommended by an independent panel, and it was supposed to make voting fairer, so that it didn't favour one party (labour) over others. Do you regret this? Or do you have a valid reason (other than playing tit for tat with the conservatives) for siding with labour against both the conservatives and your own party?

I am sorry you are in for a rough ride on here. I actually choose to believe you yourself are pretty decent but hopelessly misguided. But consider who should ordinary working people hate the most, the known old enemies or the turncoats who have enabled them and left us in this state.

what was getting your children into a 'good' school like? Was it difficult?
Did the alternatives horrify you?

Mine and GibberingFlapdoodle's questions are pretty much the same. I think that means you have to ask him ours

Yes, I think most people want the same question answered. Why and so what do we do now.

Checking in

where do we watch it? I am confused ( and lost)

Yes, what does "liveblogging" mean? Do we just watch this fred? I thought "live feed" meant a streaming video - that would be even better!

Hully's qu. is very important btw. Please ask that one
Also Plonkysaurus and Flapdoodle

oh what the hell they are all good questions, don't let him go till he has answered them all