David Cameron live webchat, Friday 14th March 3.30-4.30

[JustineMumsnet]

David Cameron is coming back (which is more than we can say for Piers Morgan). The leader of the opposition will be logging on from The Tory party's spring forum in Gateshead this Friday pm, at 3.30. Come along and pose him a question about an issue relevant to you, or if you can't make it on the day, you can post advance questions here.
Best,
MNHQ

But the paid parental leave you are talking about, surely, is SMP? And everyone knows that there is not a cat in hell's chance of men, en masse, taking 100 quid a week for weeks or months, which is a exactly the problem with the paltry paternity leave at present.

At my workplace, 2 weeks paternity leave is offered, 1 week on full pay, 1 week on the equivalent of SMP. Funnily enough hardly any men take the second week or use their holiday leave instead.

Real progression in parental leave would be to pay proper wages, and to incentivise employers to do so.

A report last year pointed out the shocking waste of money and talent caused by overeducated women taking lower status and salaried jobs to be able to juggle family life and work. At the other end, women are suffering extreme pension poverty and there is little chance of this changing while governments do little about addressing the real cause of women's poverty: the inability to juggle children and work.

Any answers from you lot?

Well said Bossy!

Whatever we might think of the conservatives, past or present, at least they are hear answering a barage of questions. Let the man speak for heaven's sake!

To FrannieS

You are right on pay gap - that is one of the reasons for doing our flexible maternity/paternity package. It will help change the culture where business sort of assumes that it is only women that take time off for babies.

To SilentTerror

I can't give you some spell binding thing I would change, but having children a@e services closed at night as our one is, is nuts as that is when children get ill.

here not hear!

smallwhitecat - taxes are 20%. When I first started working it was 30%.
So I have no argument with taxes. Especially as when hubby worked part time we got more back in CTC and DLA than he paid in taxes!

Thank you for your reply David.
I am very encouraged to vote for you as someone who welcomed the 'breath of fresh air ' that we thought New Labour was in 1997 and has subsequently felt very disallusioned .

TO needmore coffee.

Fair point. I always say that I am lucky to get so much help and I know from my surgeries how there are parents with disabled children who have to cope under the most incredible pressure. The figures for family breakdown in these circs are terrible. I will ask my team to see if I can get to Hop, Skip and Jump when next in Bristol. I would like to come and listen.

why, methinks he is only answering the questions he wishes, natch?

thanks David. Be sure to email me and let me know. Mumsnet has my email address.

David
I'm afraid I can't vote Tory as my local MP is James Gray - that lovely man who used his wife's breast cancer to drum up support in the last election and then dumped her for his mistress immediately after. Oh yes, and fiddled his expenses at the same time. In fact I don't know many tories in N Wilts who will be voting in the next election at all.

Can't you deal with people like him? And why isn't Conway being forced to stand down as an MP and being investigated by the police? Why should he get an MPs salary for the next 2 years when he is clearly a crook?

I don't understand why the conservatives haven't utilised the furore over Tax credits - a lot of peopl are disillusioned and disatisfied?

and not having anyone type for you is either inefficiency or a good excuse to answer fewer questions.

My questions again

Rural poverty
Fuel prices 9 we don't have gas here everyone on oil where we are)
Difference in prices with what farmers are paid for livestock etc and what they cost in supermarkets and obscene profits the supermarkets make because of this.

oh tatt just bog off

just wanted to say i like you much better than previous party leaders!!

Right got to go, bye Dave dd1 needs picking up. Promise you'll wave at us next time your on the GMTV sofa!

I'm waiting to hear how promises will be paid for

mb - he's a politician! Surely you don't have to ask...

TO RTKanga

Sorry - I can't give you much joy on tuition fees and top up fees. We need good universities to compete for the future, they cost money and the pressures on spending are huge. We have to ask students to make their contribution. We should look at the interest rates they pay as the debt position ofr too many is getting worse. And we must make sure there are good bursaries, but sorry - fees will stay.

To Highlander

Sorry about the ties....at least I was wearing one.

To all

I am afraid that I have to sign off and join my conference in Gateshead. This is a great site and I have enjoyed the conversation. As i said, I want it to be continued with my party and so Maria will be on here soon, if that is ok, and I will get some answers to some of the factual questions posted later.

Meantime, thanks and goodbye.

By RTKangaDYSONMummy on Wed 12-Mar-08 20:36:24
David

What are you planning to do for our children wanting to go to University?

Are you going to help them with fees and living expenses?

What will you do to make us more like Scotland?

Thanks

RTKM

Thanks a lot for taking the time, enjoy Gateshead

Thanks so much for coming on Dave and typing at remarkable speed, given your two-fingered approach. We've loved having you and are very grateful for the chance to quiz you directly.

Thanks also to Mumsnetters for all your inciteful questions - we'll make sure any unanswered ones get forwarded on and post the responses asap.

And welcome Maria!

M Towers

ooooooooooooops meant to click a thank you and cut and pasted instead

sorry

Thanks for answering David

How do the Scotish kids manage it then?

(insightful, Justine)