MNHQ here: Got a question for the Chancellor, Rishi Sunak MP?

[JuliaMumsnet]

Hi all,

It's clear from the boards that Mumsnet users are feeling the squeeze from the rising cost of living. So we're pleased to say that later this week, Justine will be sitting down with the man who holds the nation's purse strings, Chancellor Rishi Sunak, to ask him your questions.

If you have a question you'd like answering, you can post it below. Please stick to the usual guidelines - one question per user, keep it civil, and if one topic is dominating, please don't continue to post what's effectively the same question or point. We'll be limited for time so we won't be able to ask every question - but we'll try to make sure we cover the topics that we know are important to Mumsnet users.

We'll be closing the thread at midnight tonight, so please do get your questions in before that - and watch this space to hear the Chancellor's responses!

Thanks,
MNHQ

[TheFairyCaravan]

Why did you have to be shamed into feeding poorer children, in the school holidays, by Marcus Rashford? What makes this worse is you were, personally, benefitting from a loophole in the tax system which saw your family save around £20m, yet you kept telling us there was no magic money tree to help these children. Funny how there’s always a way to help the rich ones, though, hey?

[SirChenjins]

How do you actually sleep at night knowing that you’re personally responsible for pushing millions into the levels of poverty you will never experience?

Were you born with a complete lack of morals and sense of social justice or were you raised that way?

How can you bring yourself to sit next to the worst PM in living memory and nod in support of him?

[DonNotKeith]

Do you understand the difference between earned and acquired income?

Should acquired income pay a higher rate tax because it was not worked for?

Would you include inheritance, rental and dividends income in the acquired income definition?

[Peppapigforlife]

I'm a single mum who has limited childcare available in her area and I can't drive. I can't find a job that fits in the 12 hours of term time childcare that I receive. I get about £620 a month for both of us, after rent is paid and have to pay all my bills, our clothes, food, transport, and toiletries with this. My house is particularly draughty. Could you create me the budget you would personally use, if this was your living situation and you had no opportunity to improve it?

[WhereWasThatFrom]

I suppose someone has to ask....

What's your favourite biscuit?

[RoseslnTheHospital]

It's probably a Rich Tea...

[pointythings]

When are you and your party going to look at what other countries are doing to shield their people from the cost of living crisis and start following suit?

[CapMarvel]

Would you have a word with fellow tory MP Andrew Bowie and remind him that he does need to respond to his constituents once in a while?

[L1ttledrummergirl]

@CapMarvel

Would you have a word with fellow tory MP Andrew Bowie and remind him that he does need to respond to his constituents once in a while?

Judging from posters here, that could apply to all conservative MPs.
Although according to some who work for the MPs, the staff bin any correspondence they don't like...

[SierraSapphire]

I'm a lone parent and carer for my DM. I ran a small business for 10 years that fitted around my caring responsibilities. In 2020 I lost half my income but got no financial support because I'm a company director (many public sector clients required this though I only earned about the average wage). I've worked pretty much non-stop since to keep my business and finances afloat but have just been diagnosed with cancer - I have no risk factors other than the immense stress I've been under trying to make sure we didn't lose the house. Do you think this is a price worth paying and do you still think you didn't leave anyone behind?

[midnight90]

Why should people who want to be parents and become a family have to struggle with their finances, why can't they get help with child care costs. Why must everything be extortionate.

I work full-time plus my husband works full time, I'm on maternity leave now and when I go back I would have to go full or part time either way I'm loosing out, one end if I go back part-time less money, I go back full-time I miss out on raising my child and all the happiness of it all.

[climster]

Why don't u give single parent families double tax allowance as they have in France?

[SpindleInTheWind]

@RoseslnTheHospital

It's probably a Rich Tea...

Well he's not popular enough for a Garibaldi any more

[HollowTalk]

If you were David Cameron back in the day, would you have held a Brexit referendum?

[SuperheroBirds]

If the cost of everything is increasing, and taxes including VAT and fuel duty, etc is all a percentage, is The Treasury now taking in more money? And if so, is there not scope to reduce the tax percentage to help everyone out?

[Neverreturntoathread]

Dear Rishi

Why, in a party as large as the Conservative party, can you not find a better leader? Really anyone who hasn’t been fired for dishonesty / fined by the police for criminal behaviour would be fine.

[LouBeLouBeLou]

Rishi
Can I ask why you haven't resigned ?

Thank you

[LouBeLouBeLou]

Rishi,
Are you embarrassed that we will be the worst-performing G7 economy next year ? What are you going to do about our poor performance?

Thank you

[Flatbrokefornow]

With so many ministers found guilty of breaking parliamentary code, and indeed actual laws, what are the real consequences for ministers and who enforces them?

If I were found sleeping, falsifying expenses, drinking alcohol or breaking the law at my place of work, I would be found to have committed gross misconduct and very likely fired. Yet this sort of abuse of a public position seems to be a recurring problem in Westminster, and ministers face no visible consequences. Why is this openly tolerated in government when any other public employee, and most private ones, would face very severe consequences? Why aren’t there more stringent consequences in place for ministers who break parliamentary code? A fine is plainly not an adequate deterrent, as ministers are paid much more highly than average, and have a much greater chance of having inherited wealth or other income streams. Are you relying on their innate morality to resign if they are exposed in wrongdoing? How effective do you see this being, given that the least moral individuals are the ones most likely to behave…..immorally, and the most likely to conceal it. How is the government going change the culture of acceptance around the disgraceful misuse of public positions and ensure the public is represented and governed by honourable individuals in the public interest in future?

[LouBeLouBeLou]

Rishi,
Please can you confirm that you will not follow the Bank of England's recommendations to set up a Central Bank Digital Currency?

Thank you

[iklboo]

Not one that can be asked in public.

[Forgothowmuchlhatehomeschoolin]

Mr Sunak...
Please save all the admin and hassle involved with the £200 loan that nobody wants. Literally don't know one person that wants it. Would you consider backtracking on this particular idea being as £200 doesn't even cover one month's increase on my fuel bill now.

[WeBuiltCisCityOnSexistRoles]

Do you agree with the following statement, yes or no?

Do you think it is fair and reasonable that Carer's Allowance is £69.70 a week and you must be providing a minimum of 35 hrs care ie that a carer receives £1.99 an hour?

Yes or no.

[WeBuiltCisCityOnSexistRoles]

Mine is a nice, succinct question but please feel free to elaborate once you have said yes or no!

If no, what do you plan to do about it?

If yes, would you be prepared to come and provide care for me for a week for £1.99 an hour and then answer the question?

Look forward to hearing from you.

[Tanith]

An investigation by the Early Years Alliance last year found that the Government has knowingly underfunded the sector over the past ten years.

How will you adequately fund nurseries and childminders so that parents are able to access affordable childcare?