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

Dear Nick,

I am going to vote Lib Dem for the first time due to your stance on Europe and Brexit, as I no longer feel that the Conservatives represents my views on an open and free society.

My question is, with the shift in politics away from left/right, can the Lib Dems become the main opposition and a future government by combining with the moderate Labour MPs?

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

Great question from assassinated

Also the Lib dems have pledged to raise income tax by 1p to help the NHS. It's really refreshing for a party to actually say where the money will come from. But are voters in general prepared to pay more taxes? It gets my support but most people think they are taxed enough.

Nick, don't give up, you are one of the very few politicians who talk any sense

I wish you and Corbyn would get together and start your own party, this country needs to get rid of the tories before it gets worse

what I can never understand is people still banging on about tuition fees, yes you made a mistake and took the blame for it, how many u turns have the tories made in recent years that are never mentioned???

I think the libdems lost seats in the last ge more because of tactical voting against ukip than anything else. Most people realise you were in a coalition government rather than actually being in full control. That being said the party is far weaker without you as the leader. Do you regret stepping down?

what I can never understand is people still banging on about tuition fees

What's not to understand? If they raise tax by 1% it will cost this family about £500 pa. Extra tuition fees cost £24,000 - that's the equivalent of 48 years' PAYE rise.
I'm going to bang on about this for at least 48 years.

How can you trust anything Clegg says?

But can you understand that that decision was not in lib demand control as they were not the whole government? They could reign in some of the horrifically bad stuff that is happening now but could not implement such large scale policy changes on their own.

Also I think given the scale of the current financial issues the abolition of tuition fees would have been a mistake (I say this as someone who is still paying off my student loan over a decade after leaving uni) as the NHS, schools, public sector workers and services, housing, and the disabled are much greater priorities for the majority.

Hi Nick. What was the first word or noise out of your mouth when you heard Trump had won the presidency? (I think for me it was 'fuuuuuuuuck')

Did your cigarette consumption rise markedly during the second half of 2016?

But can you understand that that decision was not in lib demand control as they were not the whole government? They could reign in some of the horrifically bad stuff that is happening now but could not implement such large scale policy changes on their own.

They spent a week hammering out the coalition agreement. There was plenty of time to insist that the pledge be part of the deal or they walk.

The tories would have risked a minority rule or they would have sought smaller parties support. The library demo could only call the shots so far before their wants were worth more than their support

I think if you hold a sign saying that you pledge to vote against tuition fee increases and then you actually vote for tuition fee increases, it's fair to question that.

Hi, I would consider voting Lib Dem due to your pro EU stance. However, I cannot do so whilst your party supports the decriminalization of prostitution. In Germany, this has led to an increase in demand, an increase in men buying sex, an increase in the exploitation of women, and cut-price all-inclusive mega brothels in city centres. I cannot vote for a party that sees women as a commodity. Can you explain why you have not chosen to support the Nordic model, given that prostitution-related violence against women has been shown to decrease in countries that have adopted it?

Peaceful students kettled on Clegg's watch.Many of them children, under 18, some 15 years old were- kettled.Pen ed in like animals.
Clegg was in coalition. Clegg did nothing to stop this - children and young pople being kettled, frightened,unable to leave, get water,go home or even go to the loo. Clegg wanted power for power's sake so much he stood by watching our country get more and more divided.

Hi Nick –how do you explain what your job is to your kids? My 6yo niece really likes a book called The Election about the spotty and stripy parties (though it doesn't have a yellow party in it!) and we took her to see Parliament from the outside which was fun.

Hi Nick, just wanted to say a big thank you, for my children's free school meals. You have saved me a fortune.

If you think British politics is between two extremes, how do you propose to bring those extremes together whilst basing your campaign firmly on one side of the polarising EU debate?

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I cam to see you speak at the event organised my Mumsnet a few years ago. I also started a thread recently on here which was not complimentary of you.
I am sure you are a very nice person in real life but I dislike you as a political because you are a career politician from a very privileged background who simply tells people what they want to hear in order to further your career. At a time when your Government were introducing terrible cuts because according to you there was no money you made sure you had an expensive referendum on the issue of PR so that you could try to secure you and your party's political future. Thankfully you failed. You toured the UK, making pledges to stop tuition fee increases knowing full well that Vince Cable was drafting plans to introduce the increases.
The UK would be better served if there were fewer politicians like you.

Hi Nick, good for you for coming on. My question is unashamedly shallow. If you ever leave politics would you ever go on Strictly? Please?

I am fairly uncommitted as voters go, but when people criticise the LDs for decisions of the coalition I get cross.

I'm certain that the decisions of the last two years have been far worse than those of the previous five (although I recognise that some coalition decisions paved the way for the new policies).

So my question is: why do you think the LDs have taken all the blame, and the Conservatives all the credit, for the coalition administration? Is it just PR/biased media?

Hi Nick

As a Tory voter, in a household with 5 voters, would would you say to make me/us change our vote to your Party.

We own a small business with 2 sons in college. Homeowner

I'm another who would like to thank you for the pupil premium.

How would the Lib Dems protect the NHS if they won the election?

Hi, ready for your questions - shoot (not literally)

Nick

Hi Nick, thanks for coming on Mumsnet.

I agree with everything you've said about Brexit and, especially since June 23rd, you've been one of the few politicians who have spoken up for me. I'm terrified about what is happening to our country under the tories and leaving the EU still breaks my heart.

I'm torn between a Labour and a Lib Dem vote. I voted tactically for Labour in the last election and woke up to a Tory government and a decimated Lib Dem party. Your departure speech about giving into the politics of fear was harrowing.

I initially felt hope when the GE was called, however we are so disjointed. Why would Farron say no to a coalition? Realistically the Lib Demi aren't getting into government without one. We need cohesion not more egotistical politicians. So tell my why I should vote Lib Dem?