MNHQ here: Got a question for Rishi Sunak?

[RhiannonEMumsnet]

Hi there,

We’re pleased to tell you that next week, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak will be answering questions from Mumsnet users in a written Q+A.

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 deleting questions that are repeated multiple times). We'll make sure we cover the topics that we know are important to Mumsnet users. As it’s a written Q+A without a chance for follow ups, please do include as much detail as you’d like in your questions.

We'll be closing this thread at 1pm on Sunday, so do get your questions in before that - and watch this space to hear the PM’s responses!

Thanks,
MNHQ

With regard to National Service plans. Do you not realise how many young people are actually volunteering or developing skills anyway without being forced? Eg the thousands who get their D of E awards, those who do St John's, cadets, help with guides/ Scouts etc? I think by saying they are being made compulsory you are disrespecting those young people who do these things via choice.

Why does the Conservative Party venerate and attract so many grifters, whether that be Covid profiteers at the top of the scale siphoning public monies, or petty gamblers using inside information for fixed bets? Is greed good in the Conservative Party?

Not a question but just wanted to thank you for the financial support you provided during covid…. it helped my family no end

Hi Rishi,

Please can you send me a signed photograph? I think you’re totally gorgeous and have amazing style. If we were both single Rishi, I’d be asking for your number 😘. I’m sure it can hopefully be arranged via Mumsnet??? Please Mumsnet help a lady out! 🙏. I can pay postage if necessary.

If I’m allowed to ask a second question, please can you tell me what your plans are to recruit and retain teachers? I’m one myself and very concerned.

Thank you number one crush of mine
Love SprinkleOfSunak 💕

I am one of those ethnic minority women who were pleased to see you as prime minister and wanted you to succeed.
why I don’t see you raising issues around ethnicity and discrimination against minorities.
Also why not talk about education/ tuition fees/ support for disadvantaged STEM students who are struggling to make their way into the workforce.
thanks

You say that rising inflation had nothing to do with you, it was down to the War in Ukraine, Covid etc. Please tell me what your party did to lower inflation.

Hi Rishi! What impact do you think climate change will have on the lives of your daughters and any children they may have? Best wishes.

Humph. you were lucky then. DH industry (theatre) was closed for 16months and we couldn't get a single penny.

Q for Rishi - why did you decide to treat self employed people differently to employed people during the covid financial help packages? 😡

My son joined the army 10 yrs ago, when he was 19. He has said that should you win the election and bring in National Service, he will leave. He’s not the only one among his peer group either. Every day he has to try to motivate himself and others to work without the equipment they need. Their accommodation is unsatisfactory, and has rats running around outside in copious amounts. Some blocks have them inside (My spare room is currently full of his kit & belongings because he’s away & can’t run the risk of rats getting in and damaging it all). They don’t have the room to house these extra people, and there will be precious little that can be done with them because training and trade training takes longer than a year. So, how will you address the exacerbation in the recruitment and retention crisis within the armed forces due to this ridiculous policy? My husband served 35yrs and laughed like a drain when it was announced, then said “thank god I’m not still in”.

I know it’s not just for the forces, but my other son, who is a charge nurse, doesn’t want it either. He doesn’t understand why you think they’ve all got time to supervise these youngsters on top of doing their jobs and frankly, nor do I.

Staying with the subject of National Service, members of your party said there will be no consequences if people don’t do it, but on Questions Time, on Thursday, you said “there would be financial consequences and you’d look at driving licences…” Which one is it? If it’s the latter I find it incredibly worrying, tbh.

What do you think you will look back on with the most regret in relation to using your time in office; was there anything you wanted to achieve but were unable to due to in-party conflicts? Post Brexit has meant a focus on exclusion rather than inclusion for the party which I can only imagine will feel like a worrying legacy?

So sorry about your mum’s suffering @chimppyjamas

And straight after your post @JamNittyGritty asked
”Why so against raising taxes? Public services are unable to manage on the budgets they have and the quality of services falls miserably short of being able to provide even a very basic level of care / education etc. I am sure if you asked almost anyone would they be happy to pay a few extra pounds a week to be able to access good services they would step up. Yet this continued fear mongering over this- why?”

I think these two questions together say A LOT and hope they are put to Sunak.

How do you sleep at night, knowing that your party put themselves before country at every opportunity, those who defended the indefensible time & time again especially when it came to the partying at No.10 whilst the rest of us obeyed the rules loved ones dying alone, children/women who died at the hands of abusers because of the “rules”
why have the richest in our society become even more wealthy yet child poverty has increased to levels that are unimaginable in one of the richest countries in the world are you not even slightly regretful of the deliberate policy’s you have implemented haven’t even remotely made the people of the U.K. lives better instead you have sought to divide & conquer.
so much privilege yet so little care of your fellow citizens.

Which public services will be cut to fund the National insurance cuts already in place and promised in the manifesto?

Can't wait to see which of these questions actually get put to Rishi. Will there be a video of the interview or just a thread?

Why can’t I get a doctor’s appointment in Epping for at least two weeks?

Yes, when interviewed he said there would be sanctions. It is extremely worrying.

Why did you disrespect the veterans by leaving before the leaders D day service? You put yourself before your country. It is such a bad look for a leader. Boris would never have missed an opportunity to have his photo taken with other world leaders at the Veteran service.

Why in his current role as Prime minister has he attempted to portray the vulnerable as stealing from our country for example those with disabilities. When in reality it’s the 1% who haven’t paid their fair share. Stop villainising the vulnerable and cut down on those exploiting them.

Where do you buy your trousers? 🤣

Why do you and your party have so little disregard for young people struggling with mental health and mental provision in this country? Why have you decimated mental health provision for both children and adults?What do you expect parents caring for young people who need specific treatments and access to skilled professionals such as psychiatrists and clinical psychologists to do?By treatment I mean specific therapies as prescribed by psychiatrists not generic talking therapy delivered by low skilled staff forced on unwell people to get them back in work. How do you expect unwell young people to work when it is impossible to access specific treatment and support they need?

Hi everyone,

Thanks so much for your questions - we were able to pick ten to put to the Prime Minister and you can see how he answered here:

https://www.mumsnet.com/news/mumsnet-users-put-their-questions-to-prime-minister-rishi-sunak

Thanks,
MNHQ

Ngl pretty disappointed women & children’s safety wasn’t deemed an impt enough ques to ask - neither mine nor any others on same subject

but 🤷🏻‍♀️ the old doh ray me got more than one go around

benefit of the doubt is you’re saving it for Keir

I’ll not be bothering to read his tho

Thank you @RhiannonEMumsnet

I was wondering what happened with this.

Disappointed he didn't answer all the questions (including mine, as a genuinely undecided voter in a Conservative/Labour marginal seat) but at least he replied to some posters. I'll read through his answers properly later.

I don't suppose Keir Starmer has agreed to do a webchat too? It would be good to have the same opportunity put questions to him.

He answered mine but continued the lie that the ECHR is a foreign court.

He didn't answer mine which invited him to defend his record as PM.