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

Would like to ask how I can reconcile the fact that I am quite drawn to him and many of his policies (against some of my fundemental socialist leanings) but just when I consider how I could for the first time be voting Tory, round comes the local tory councillor and totally reinforces all my long held ideas about what a real Conservative looks like. Judgemental, nimbyist, reactionary and unthinking with no real intellectual strength just small mindedness? So how can he convince me that he really is the true face of the Conservative party??

Dave - Here's the thing...

politicians will do and say anything they have to to get into power. Once in they have trouble with the follow-through ('oh, wait, all that stuff we promised...we can't actually afford to do that...never mind then')

so why should we believe ANYTHING that you say anyway?

what will YOU DO that will improve MY LIFE, even in a small way?

PMSL moopy dh's best man was once a Tory candidate I am going to have to cut and paste that to him.

What are the plans for the tax credits shambles? I have been telling them (by phone and recorded letter) that they have been overpaying me since September. Their response? To deposit 9 thousand pounds in one go into my bank account. I don't want it, it's not mine, they won't tell me how to give it back to them.

What about making employer childcare vouchers compulsory? I get the monthly tax free maximum plus however much more I need to cover my costs (one child in nursery 3 days a week, one child with a childminder before/after school and holidays) with this extra being free of NI, I believe.

BUT my husband's employer does not offer vouchers, so we are missing out on the additional tax relief. It also means that I take the double whammy on my pension of going part time to benefit the family which affects my employer percentage based contributions and also my having all the childcare costs which further reduce the salary that my pension is based on. Just have to hope he doesn't trade me in for a younger/richer model!

David,

Would you plese let me know if you are in agreement with the current system of National Insurance contributions and if not what are your government going to do to rectify it?

This is an inequality that few people know about so tends to get ignored.

For illustration

Myself - NHS clerical worker, salary £16,000 pays 7.4% of salary in Nat Ins

An MP, salary £61,820 pays 5.7% of salary in Nat Ins

You, Leader of the Opposition, salary £132,317 pays 3.2% of salary in Nat Ins

Prime Minister, salary £189,994 pays 2.5 % of salary in Nat Ins.

Thank you for your comments!

Ps Well done on your after budget speech - 'twas very good!!

very true. Actually my bil is a labour mp and i would not call him appealing...

This question is relevant to me, and I would like to know your responses.

I am a fully qualified childminder with 7 years experience. Currently I am working in a shop!. The reason is that because we moved from Scotland to England - becasue my husband is in the Forces so didn't have a choice - I am having to do all my training again and re-register. It is taking months, hence the reason for me working in a shop. I personally feel that I am being discriminated against by OFSTED and the NCMA becasue I'm A) Scottish and B) A Forces wife

Do you think that a way of "fast tracking" people who have moved, especially for reasons like mine, is workable? I know there are child protection issues, and as a parent I wouldn't want that to stop, but I have a disclosure Scotland check, as does my Hubby. I was up to date in Scotland with all my training including First Aid and Child Protection. yet this apparently counts for nothing. Why? . Surely there could be some way that Care Commission, OFSTED NCMA and SCMA ( and the relevant bodies in Wales and NI as well) could come to some arrangement, to make it easier for me, and others like me to register?
I know it's long and rambling but it's starting to really annoy me now!

good point lilibet re upper earnings limit on NI apart from Gordon's 1%. I have never understood it.

Hi Dave
just pondering here....what are they basic differences, ideologically, practically between you guys and new labour these days?

i dont see any them myself and wonder if that is why we get such low turnouts at elections?
lack of real choice?

also, if elected what would your policy be on ID cards, swearing oaths of allegiance for 16 year olds?
troops out? Iraq / afghanistan ...what is the idea there?
if we want people to feel proud of this country dont force them to recite futile statements at a certain age give them a country they feel they have the chance to learn grow participate and prosper in..

what are you gonna do about social mobility and when will the brightest, not richest, get a real chance to take part?

Picture of last web chat

How cute is that BABY?

saltire
i'd send that question to my own mp..very interesting to see if they can help or at least bring attention to this unnecessary beaucracy unfairness

just cut and paste and email to them..?...

Is that his harem then? on that picture you linked to MP?

Dee - I am emailing my MP, and also Alex Salmond (tosser though he is) and a friend of mine who moved from Wales to Scotland - again Forces - has had similar problems. Perhaps Salmond can help with the care Commission side of it, as I think that comes under the umbrella of the Scottish Government. I posted the question as I'd like to see what Mr Cameron thinks about it

good, hope you get some answers!
i actually like Alex Salmond
eloquent and good voice and better than the shower before no?
but have now lived south of the border for longer than i lived north!

No Saltire, I believe it's the residents of MN Towers in Carrie's kitchen

(posh eh? look at that posh brickwork thing going on and that posh tablecloth)

He is better than the the lot Scotland had before. I just don't think Scotland should be fully independent, also, not having lived under his regime in Scotland yet, I don't have experience of how he is doing.
I do feel he would be of some assistance in this matter though, more so perhaps than my own MP

sorry if it has been asked before

re NHS do you really think it is possible to continue as it is? and what changes do you propose? is means testing or some kind or private insurance in the cards?

what do you propose doing about the current waste in prescriptions including the use of branded versus generic drugs.

also what is your position on tax relief if one parent chooses to stay at home caring for pre school children while the other works?

regarding small businesses and self employed people what are your thoughts on current bureaucracy and tax

many thanks

btw not a natural tory voter

what would you do about the state of under age drinking in this country? it has got out of control.

Message withdrawn

What will your party do about the underfunded community speech and language therapy services in this country?

I'm largely just nosy about your family. You've got 3 young children (Ivan 5, Nancy 4 and Arthur 2) - how many hours a week do you get to spend with them? And do you enjoy conferences etc when you can have nights away when you can sleep without being disturbed by small children?!

I have a few questions:

1. Is anyone in the government willing to concede that the study done on the environmental benefits of cloth nappies was flawed? Is the government going to do anything to promote the use of cloth nappies? (At present the council incentives are hard to find on my local council site and I only knew to look for them because my health visitor told me there were some incentives when she saw I was already using cloth)

2. How do you feel about the amount of examinations school children currently have to take? Do you not feel that this discourages the less academic pupils, who could perhaps benefit from a more relaxed learning style?

3. Adult education has numerous benefits. I have started an evening course that has helped me to set up my own business working from home while my baby is little. However funding for adult education has been cut in favour of funding 16-19 year olds to do courses despite them having already dropped out of school education. Would a conservative government have any plans to re-introduce funding for adult education?

MP - are you reminding him of the names and ages of his children?