Labour leadership hustings - Webchat with Jeremy Corbyn and Liz Kendall, Tuesday 28 July 2015 at 12pm

[BojanaMumsnet]

Hello

Following on from Friday's webchat with Yvette Cooper, we’re pleased to announced the second of our Labour leadership hustings webchats with Jeremy Corbyn and Liz Kendall, tomorrow at 12 noon.

Jeremy Corbyn has been an MP for North Islington since 1983. In addition to his involvement with local organisations and community groups, he has a keen interest in international affairs and is the chair of the Stop the War coalition, which he helped establish in 2001. Jeremy’s candidacy for the Labour leadership has triggered a flurry of headlines and soundbites.

Liz Kendall was elected as Labour MP for Leicester West in 2010. She is the Shadow Minister for Care and Older People. Her focuses include improving public services and making society fairer, and she has previously been the Director of the Ambulance Service Network and of the Maternity Alliance charity. Liz has recently spoken out against sexism in politics, following a row about remarks made by a supporter of Andy Burnham’s candidacy.

Please join us for the webchat at 12pm tomorrow if you can, or post a question for Jeremy and Liz here in advance if you can’t.

Labour leadership voting is open until Thursday 10 September and the ballot results will be released on Saturday 12 September.

Thanks

MNHQ

[LizKendallMP]

@damibasiamille

As Labour leader, what would you expect your relationship to be with the SNP?

Also, how far do you expect the present government to go in its plans to "reform" the BBC?

I will fight the SNP. I don't believe in raising someone's national identity above what we have in common as human beings. And I am Labour because I believe in solidarity - that through the strength of our common endeavour we achieve more than we do alone.

[omnom]

Frostox's question about the third child benefit cap - there's a serious point there - how do you square 'opportunities for all' with penalising children in low-income families for their parents' reproductive decisions?

Children can't control whether they're the first or third or ninth child in a family.

Children who grow up in poverty have their life chances curtailed from the very start, and are way behind their peers by the time they start school.

How can Labour politicians justify supporting the third child cap? It feels as though it's being supported because the public are likely to support it, not for any more thought-through or moral reason. It's a terrible one to take a stand on.

[VelvetGreen]

Do either of you agree that it is time to do away with a compulsory act of worship of a broadly Christian nature in state schools?

In a country where the majority are not practising Christians is it right that the only alternative parents have if they object to the indoctrination of their children is to withdraw them from assembly, resulting in segregation due to their beliefs (or lack of them)?

[LizKendallMP]

@DoesItReallyMatter

I'll ask the same question that I asked Yvette.

Can you please tell us what is your favourite biscuit.

Thank you.

I know it doesn't really matter

I'm more into savoury snacks. Currently popcorn.

[KateMumsnet]

Hello all

Thought you might like to know that BBC Woman's Hour ambushed Jeremy this morning with a question about Mumsnetters' recent expressions of admiration.

His response is at about 13.35 minute in - and the original thread is over here.

[JeremyCorbynMP]

@judyblueeyes3

Hi, Can you both tell me where to find your Disability Policy please?
If you don't have one, will you be asking Disabled people to co-create one with you, one which will be actually implemented?

There's an article on Disability News Service where all the candidates have set out their policies for disabled people. I have a clear record of standing against the cuts that disabled people face, including the closure of the Independent Living Fund, and those contained within the Welfare Bill last week. In recent years policy has been done to disabled people rather than with them. I have worked with campaigning groups such as DPAC and the WOW petition on these issues.

[Quirkybird36]

*politician

[joshpettitt]

Hi Jeremy,

I have a rare skin condition - allergic to cotton. It's a right pain to wear work shirts.

Just wondered if you suffered from the same affliction and if so where do you get your endless supply of handy vests from?

Cheers

[LizKendallMP]

@omnom

Frostox's question about the third child benefit cap - there's a serious point there - how do you square 'opportunities for all' with penalising children in low-income families for their parents' reproductive decisions?

Children can't control whether they're the first or third or ninth child in a family.

Children who grow up in poverty have their life chances curtailed from the very start, and are way behind their peers by the time they start school.

How can Labour politicians justify supporting the third child cap? It feels as though it's being supported because the public are likely to support it, not for any more thought-through or moral reason. It's a terrible one to take a stand on.

I don't want to see tax credits cut from poor and low income families - I've said Labour must set out a positive alternative to the Tories failing welfare reforms, and have a genuine living wage not George Osborne's "con".

[JeremyCorbynMP]

@knightfall

Hi Jeremy and Liz

What is your approach to the arts? Would you support the arts as labour leader / prime minister? If so, how?

The arts are part of all of our lives. And it therefore means that we must defend the BBC as a public service broadcaster and major innovator of music and entertainment as well as great documentaries. But I also want to ensure the widest possible participation in music, theatre and performing arts by sufficient Arts Council funding and encouragement of theatre and film in schools, where so many children are put off and told that somehow or other the arts are 'exclusive' and not for them. Jennie Lee was the minister in the 1960s who developed both the Open University and the Arts Council, which has done so much for local and regional theatre, which of course feeds into our brilliant national theatre scene. Let's all live rich lives through music, dance and art!

[MavisG]

3 of us have asked about your views re stay-at-home parents/home education. You must have expected the former at least - are you really unable to answer?

[SpiritedQuill]

Point of order Omnom... the Labour 'reasoned amendment' was a way of opposing the bill setting out reasons. Labour is not in favour of the bill.

I think it was an error not to vote against when the vote came up, but normally the reasoned amendment would be seen as opposing the bill.

Labour has the opportunity now to amend the bill and vote against it at the third reading.

Unfortunately the damage has been done in terms of the headlines. I hope all the candidates will have taken note of the importance of how clear our actions are to the public through the media.

[JeremyCorbynMP]

@joshpettitt

Hi Jeremy,

I have a rare skin condition - allergic to cotton. It's a right pain to wear work shirts.

Just wondered if you suffered from the same affliction and if so where do you get your endless supply of handy vests from?

Cheers

No I don't suffer from that condition but I know people who do, and sometimes allergies are provoked by diet, and sometimes by the material of clothing we wear. Raw untreated cotton is least harsh on the skin I believe. I buy my vests on Holloway Rd, N7 - on a market stall!

[Trisagion]

What is your policy on legal aid cuts? Justice is being denied to many in both the. Riminsl and family courts.

[omnom]

Oh right thanks liz and quill.

[judyblueeyes3]

Thanks for your reply Jeremy. Glad to hear you have supported Disabled people and hope that if you win you will co-create a Disability Policy with those who are disabled or have long-term health problems - I believe this is vital for any future policy to stand a chance of actually working in the real every day world we live in.

[Trisagion]

In both criminal and Family

[JeremyCorbynMP]

@bemybebe

Oooh, I am very late, no hope to get an answer but I will try.

Jeremy, I have a 3 year old summer born child. I would like her to start school at compulsory school age, but the Local Authority where I live would not allow her to start in reception, thus denying her a whole year of education. They are supposed to act in the best interest of children, but in reality they are protecting "bureaucratic neatness". Education minister Nick Gibb recently indicated that DfE will be looking again at the situation and possible solutions.

Would you support the families of summer born children, who don't want their barely 4 year olds at school, to have access to full education, just like the rest of the children in England?

Personally I am a summer-born child and I do understand the point, and urge all LEAs to do mid-year entries as well as the traditional September one to avoid this problem.

[bemybebe]

Also keen to hear about Home Education policy...

[JeremyCorbynMP]

Thanks ever so much for all the questions - I did my best in an hour to deal with most of the subjects. All the best, Jeremy.

[badrenalin]

Dear Jeremy, thank you for your refreshing and much needed contribution to the front line debate on the direction of the labour party, even if you do not win I hope you come down from the back and can be viewed as a serious politician which you are! I am concerned about your support being discredited because we are 'new' members and supporters, this is for two reasons, you speak for the real 'working' people in this country so we are finally enthused and 2. this is the most democratic process ever conducted for a party leadership contest which makes it easy for us to get involved. There could be a huge backlash if we are discredited because we don't tow the current party line, how will you ensure this doesn't happen?

[HowD]

Jeremy must have answered five to every one Liz answered. Did he have a few people typing for him?

[Quirkybird36]

You both did really well. Thank you. Good luck.

[LizKendallMP]

Sorry I couldn't answer more questions, thanks to everyone who took part.
If you'd like to vote in this contest, or know anyone else who might, you can sign up and have your say by clicking here: //support.labour.org.uk
Over and out... Liz x

[derxa]

I think the Labour problem in Scotland is that it took too much for granted, had too few members and in the last election it's pro-Trident and austerity lite agenda had no resonance with a large proportion of the Scottish electorate.
You're right there. Also Ed Milliband had very little appeal to the average Scottish person. The personality of the Labour leader is extremely important as well as clear policies.