Webchat with Nicola Sturgeon - 1pm Tuesday, 5th May

[JustineMumsnet]

We’re pleased to announce that Nicola Sturgeon MSP, the First Minister of Scotland and leader of the SNP, will be joining us for a webchat at 1pm on Tuesday 5 May - just two days before the General Election.

Nicola is the MSP for Glasgow Southside. Before becoming an MSP she worked as a solicitor at the Drumchapel Law Centre. She has the distinction of having been called 'the most dangerous woman in British politics' by the Daily Telegraph (among others).

Whatever your hopes for the outcome of the election, there’s no doubt that the SNP’s surge in Scotland is one of 2015’s biggest stories of this election, with, most likely, big ramifications for UK as a whole.

So we hope you’ll join us and put your questions to Nicola on Tuesday 5 May at 1pm - and if you can’t be there on the day, please post up your questions in advance.

Please remember our webchat guidelines - do be polite/civil, and only one question each please as we reckon this is going to be a busy one!

Nicola, please weigh into the Ultimate Hair Question that our other election web chatees have addressed.

Tristam Hunt suggested the secret to good hair was washing it at night.
Nicky Morgan and Yvette Cooper robustly disagreed and said first thing was far more preferable.

so

1. Evening or morning?
2. Any other hair tips for a busy working woman.

Hi Nicola,

We are a working family with two children under the age of 13. I work around my children ie term time only to avoid paying high childcare costs. My husband and I earn just over the threshold, therefore, in-eligible for benefits but after tax we earn just enough to live from month to month (covering essential costs). However, any extra costs or car repairs, washing machine repairs etc means incurring debts.
I believe that in the past your wage was taxed depending on your marital status / whether you had children but we currently pay as much tax as, for example a single man with no commitments.
It seems that we would actually be better off financially living on benefits but we believe in providing for our children.
How could your party tackle this issue?

Many thanks for your time and giving us the opportunity to ask questions.
Kind regards

Herman - surely you and your husband can earn £21,200 completely tax free, whereas a single man woudl pay tax aftre £10,600 . Are you suggesting that those who have children should pay less tax ? Even if they don't support their children ?

So we'd be giving tax breaks to all the fathers who don't pay anything towards their children, just because they procreated ? And then paying again to support their children through WFTC and other benefits .

And more tax breaks to rich parents ?

And you think that married people should pay less than those who are co - habiting? I think that would be impossible to administer and socially divisive

Whilst I'm somewhat uncomfortable with the childcare provisions being described as a "women's issue/policy" (as the dads are equally responsible for care of their children), I do welcome the manifesto from the SNP, and others to increase this so more parents can work.

One thing I do believe is more of an issue for women is the loopholes for men to opt out of paying child support; eg being self-employed and declaring low earnings whilst living the life of Riley; working cash-in-hand; putting everything into the new partner's name; working "abroad" enough days of the year or even just leaving the country altogether. The CSA/CMA is not fit for purpose.

If a child's mother decided to no longer feed, clothe or house their child they could be jailed for neglect. So why is it okay for men to do it?

Do you agree that this is outrageous and, if so, what does your party propose to do to tackle it?

As both a teacher in Scotland, and a parent of two High School aged children, I want to know how you propose to deal with the huge inequalities in Scottish Education - most clearly demonstrated under Curriculum for Excellence where, in some areas, pupils take 8 National 5s at the end of S4 and in others, they take only 6?

How is this equality?

Hi Nicola,

I 'm not a traditional SNP supporter but did join the party after the referendum. I loved how engaged the country became with politics. I didn't see any examples of the culture of fear that other posters have mentioned and I was so proud of the high voter turn-out. Since then I have been very impressed with your commitment to gender equality.

Westminster's long hours are notoriously unfriendly for families. How is the SNP planning to support its female Westminster candidates (with young families) to help them to balance the need to be a viable presence at Westminster with the demands of caring for their own family?

I realise I could also ask this question about male MPs but statistically women still bear the brunt of childcare so it does impact women more. I also think it's integral to any commitment to gender equality that both Westminster and Holyrood consider the issues of childcare, working hours, etc, that act as substantial barriers to women from every class standing as elected representatives.

Hi Nicola
I'm a long time supporter of the SNP, but currently disheartened at the lack of development in North East Scotland. Yes the AWPR has finally started building, but it seems that past the Central Belt, and certainly Dundee, that very little is done.
The main roads to Inverness for example (A9 & A96) - they are still single carriageway for long stretches.
I live in the Gordon constituency and cannot afford to buy a home. There is virtually no social housing, so my husband and I have to rent a very expensive tiny 2 bed house. We have two DCs, one boy, one girl, they can't share a bedroom forever. We are far from the only family in this situation. A typical 5% deposit here will be around £15k!
It seems that this area is regarded as rich, when in fact not all of us are.

How can an SNP & 'others' coalition change this?
Thanks for coming for a chat on MN.

Hi Nicola

As you'll be hoping to be part of a coalition UK government on Friday, what approach would your party be taking to relations with Spain and Pablo Iglesias' Podemos party?

Thanks for coming for a chat on MN.

As the SNP will hold power would the SNP/You vote down a Labour queens speech and let the Tories into power?

Hi Nicola, do you ever get fed up of people asking the same questions over and over again, when you have already provided clear answers?

Considering the chances of you forming a coalition seem high what are your views on summer born children being able to start school at compulsory school age in reception class? I understand there is much more flexibility in the Scottish system. Would you use your influence to help the English system become more flexible and allow parents the right to fair and equal access to reception places at compulsory school age? Thank you.

The SNP have a wide range of candidates standing for Westminster (not all of whom are young/inexperienced) who have made a whole range of offensive comments in the past.

Do you not think that having candidates who collectively have done things like:

• described Rangers supporters as "the Hun"
• compared No voters to Nazis collaborators and suggested old people barely even know their names
• said they wanted to headbutt No supporters
• defended domestic abuse by another (convicted) SNP party member because "some of these events took place 20 to 30 years ago, and the moral code was very different”

is damaging to the reputation of the party, and to you as party leader when you are still asking people to vote for them?

Why did the SNP have a £440million underspend last year and where did that money go?

Nicola - I think last year's referendum has caused deep, painful and lasting wounds in Scottish society. I believe that we need a number of years of stability, in order for these to heal - and this is not going to happen as long as there is 'Will We/Won't We' uncertainty about another referendum.

I believe we should not have another referendum for a minimum of five years, preferably ten - and I find it very disturbing that we are being left in a state of uncertainty about what is going to happen in the next Holyrood Parliament.

Before the vote, it was clearly stated that this was a 'once in a generation' vote - will you please give a clear answer about whether there is going to be a call for a second referendum in your manifesto for next year.

Hi Nicola,

I'm a No voter (& usually Scottish Greens) but on Thursday I'll be voting either my long-standing MP (Labour) who I trust independently but not his party at the moment. Or a local SNP lady because I think Westminster needs shaken up a bit.

In Edinburgh last night you categorically ruled out a mandate for a referendum following success in the GE which I and many others appreciate.

What would you say to voters like me who have never voted SNP, have faith in their serving MP but not their party, and are still undecided?

I often hear you speak of protecting Scottish education and find myself wondering why you have done away with 140,000 college places in Scotland. Education is not just for those of us lucky enough to go to university. Could you please confirm why this has happened?

As a mother of three I found myself in the middle of some utterly disgraceful behaviour in Glasgow city centre today. The city was full of parents with children, like myself, on a sunny bank holiday Monday and your supporters deemed it appropriate to scream, shout, heckle and scare passers by as they tried to stop Jim Murphy and Eddy Izzard being heard.

We live in a democracy, everyone is entitled to speak but this behaviour is simply not acceptable. The intimidation and aggression is leaving a deep scar on Scotland. Surely, you must stop saying this has 'nothing to do' with the party and accept responsibility for the behaviour of your supporters and activists.

Hannahouse, a "stairheid rammy" ??

Nicola, immigration is important to me (as in we need more, not fewer). The recent case of Steve Forman, musician and RCS lecturer, is perhaps the most well know case of the Home Office making a "wrong" decision, but there are many more talented, skilled individuals being refused leave to remain.
How can you (the SNP) influence the UK government on immigration?

Thanks.

Will you, once and for all, agree that the referendum was a 'once in a generation' event and that this generation said 'no'. Or do you intend to keep pushing for referenda until you get the 'right' result?

If the result had been yes, you wouldn't have given house-room to the thought of a second referendum, so why is referendum #2 still being discussed?

Nicola you clever inspirational lady. Watching you in the debates you have been nothing but astoundingly brilliant, and have held your own throughout.

No question from me, you've answered them all thoroughly already! A first for me when an MP wanders over to MN

I'm English and do not like the feeling that being pro-Scottish = anti-English, particularly when you and members of your party speak disparagingly of those 'South of the border'. I'm sure I was not alone in my bewilderment at the anti-English rhetoric during the lead-up to last year's referendum and was left feeling pretty angry at such divisive politics. What would you say to people like me?

Another vote of thanks from me, Nicola. I am so proud of the the way that you are representing Scotland on the national - and international - stage. I took my eleven-year-old daughter to see you the other day (sorry to say she asked for a selfie - you must be sick of them by now!) but thanks to you she has seen that politics don't have to be the prevail of shouty men in suits. The photo of you, Leanne Wood and Natalie Bennett embracing on that stage after the debate sums it up for me. The establishment doesn't realise it yet but we're on the edge of a new and positive political future, and I am so proud that you're going to be part of it. Thank you.

Hi Nicola.
Can us English Northerners please join Scotland?
Thanks.