Webchat with Nick Clegg - Tuesday 9 May at midday

[BojanaMumsnet]

Hello,

We’re pleased to announce a webchat with Nick Clegg on Tuesday 9 May at midday.

Nick is currently campaigning to keep his seat in Sheffield Hallam, where he has been the MP since 2005. He was leader of the Liberal Democrats from 2007-2015, and Deputy Prime Minister in the coalition government from 2010-2015, overseeing the introduction of shared parental leave, the pupil premium for disadvantaged children, and equal marriage - as well as increasing student fees. He’s also been on the losing side of two referendums, campaigning to introduce the Alternative Vote system, and to Remain in the EU.

Last week saw the publication of the paperback version of his book Politics: Between the Extremes, in which Nick lays out his assessment of the British political landscape - ‘nationalism resurgent, mainstream parties in turmoil, stark new divisions and the centre ground deserted’ - and offers his prescription for ‘a new politics based on reason and compromise’.

Please do join us on the day - Tuesday 9 May at midday - or if you can’t make it, post a question in advance on this thread.

Please remember our webchat guidelines: one question each, with a follow-up to the webchat guest's response if appropriate; please don't keep posting 'what about me/please answer my question'; and please be civil/polite.

(As we approach the General Election we will endeavour to offer you a balanced diet of webchats with politicians from different parties - as ever, slightly constrained by their availability! Keep your eyes peeled for more announcements.)

Thanks
MNHQ

Do you regret going into a coalition with the conservatives, and why has one been ruled out with labour?

Snog / Marry / Avoid:

Theresa May / Jeremy Corbyn / Angela Merkel

Do you keep in touch with David Cameron?

Your coalition government made me homeless in early 2011 by their contractor deciding to sanction me, despite me sticking to the rules of my Jobseekers Ageement. I'm still No Fixed Abode six years later, as my zero hours contract doesn't guarantee me enough hours to cover the huge rents where I work, which is 40 miles away from the property I'm the guardian of.

Why would I vote for a party that was complicit in making me homeless?

Remainer thinking of voting Lib Dem for the first time.

You say that we should have a second referendum after the Brexit negotiations to see if people still want to go through with it. My question is, isn't there a risk that this will weaken our negotiating position, leading the EU to offer a poorer deal hoping we'll reverse the decision, and this deal may be accepted by a majority in the referendum because people simply do not believe or understand how this would affect the country or be prepared to admit that maybe they got it wrong?

Hi Nick. I'm a LibDem member and a member of Britain For Europe. I was really hopeful that this election would be our opportunity to pull back from the brink of Brexit- I thought that a pro-Remain progressive alliance was a real possibility that the 48% could get behind and leave the anti-European left and right polarised. It never occurred to me that traditional Labour voters who supported Leave would switch to the Conservatives, but that's what seems to have happened. I don't think we're far enough down the road for Leave voters to see the damage that will be done. (And of course, that's why May called the election now.)
If I'm right, and we end up with an increased Tory majority that will inevitably be seen as an increased mandate for Brexit, what do we do? I don't set any store by hopes for a "soft" Brexit- as many of us predicted before the referendum, this is pie in the sky that the EU27 will never agree to.

DoctorTwo

Nick i see a lot of promises made to tackle rogue private landlords. But what about the rogue SOCIAL landlords.

Why do social housing tenants with the same or similar problems keep being ignored.

John Harris has been covering it extensively for the Guardian.

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/am_i_being_unreasonable/2901354-Housing-associations-Are-you-having-problems

Have you ever regretted your knee jerk reaction to step down? Especially after the surge in libdem support - do you ever wish you'd stayed at the helm and led the party back up? Would you ever return to the lead?

Why do you think people seem to like/trust you more than other politicians - what have you done differently do you think?

Thank you for taking part in this webchat, and for your work towards equality in the UK.

I am currently trying to decide between voting Labour and Lib Dem. The element stopping me from definitely voting Lib Dem is that it almost feels like a betrayal of my generation, as we were the first years to be affected by the tuition fee rise (I was less badly affected as I live in Wales, where we are covered by the Assembly Fee Grant). Despite it being a policy of the coalition government, many place the blame on your shoulders.

What I'd like to ask is what you would say to us younger people, who are attracted to Lib Dem policies but are leaving university with a much higher debt hanging over their heads?

Does it annoy or anger you that you get blamed for all the negative aspects of the coalition govt, and no credit for any of the positive things or for holding back the worst of the Conservative policy? People seem to not understand that as you didn't win the election you were never going to be able to implement all of your manifesto policies.

Appalled at the actions of this Tory government - what responsibility do you take for the coalition supporting cuts to vulnerable, disabled, students and allowing current minsters to hone their skills during your partnership with them? Why should we trust the Liberals again?

Wellysocks

Nick, in many parts of the U.K. young people and indeed not so young people are priced out of the property market.

Any thoughts on resolving this please?

Hi Nick

I really am struggling to stay with the LibDems at the moment ; I joined after the last election and I agree with a pp that you maybe stood down without good reason. I personally think history will be kinder to the LibDem role in the coalition than current views.

I'm just not feeling it from Tim Farron - tell me I'm wrong?

You were (if I remember correctly) the first politician to appear on The Last Leg and have been followed by others. I really enjoyed the programme and I have to say that it did change my opinion of you and your party.

Do you think that appearing on programmes such as this, that show the more human side of politicians, will help to encourage the young to vote? And will you be doing an Ed Milliband style music video?!

Similar to what other posters have said, I think it was unreasonable of people to expect you could have honoured all of your policies while being in a coalition.

Has Tim Farron made a mistake by ruling out any future coalition before he knows what might be on offer?

Apart from your EU pension , and your wife being a EU lawyer why would you like us to stay ?

How do we stay optimistic about striving for an open, tolerant and united society when Britain currently seems anything but?

wistfully remembering the heady days when we all agreed with Nick

Are you really just a Tory who had an agenda to get the Tories into power for 12 years. Because that's what you did.
Oh and thanks for the tuition fees. Top Class you must be so proud.

Hi Nick,

Isn't a vote for the Lib Dems just a wasted vote?

What would you advise someone in a Tory safe seat with Labour in second place who wants to see the Tories gone do?

I should clarify that I would consider voting Lib Dem if there's a good argument against tactical voting.

Hi Nick, can you explain why your party supports full decriminalisation of prostitution when in countries that have that (e.g. Germany) it has led to an increase in trafficking and mega brothels?

Thanks for coming on mumsnet Nick.

It has been noted that Farron said that the Lib Dems would not enter a coalition with May or Corbyn. Would Lib Dems enter a coalition with Labour or Cons if there was a leadership change? I'm voting LD either way but if there isn't a prospect of a coalition giving you a chance to bring politics back to the centre and fight for the 48%, I'm not sure how much influence you can have.

Hi Nick

In a recent Private Members Bill, the Women & Equalities Committee proposed that gender identity should become a protected characteristic and that the only criteria for changing gender identity should be self-declaration by completing a form on the Internet.

If this bill had gone through, it would have essentially meant that if I walked into the communal women's changing room at my gym and saw a group of men sitting inside, there would be nothing I could do about it except change in the toilets because I would have no right to challenge them.

You may have heard the rumours about Ian Huntley changing his name to Lian and wanting to move to a women's prison. If this bill had gone through, then there would be nothing to stop him - or any other male criminal - doing so on demand.

How do the Lib Dems propose to balance transgender rights and women's safety?