Live webchat with Harriet Harman MP on Tues Nov 25th 1-2pm

[HelenMumsnet]

We're pleased to announce that, as part of our ongoing Home Front debate, we've invited Harriet Harman MP to drop by MNHQ for a live webchat on Tuesday November 25th at 1pm.

As well as being Deputy Leader of the Labour Party and Leader of the House of Commons, Harriet is Secretary of State for Equalities and Minister for Women.

Please join us to put your questions to Harriet on anything from the Government's plans for flexible working to Gordon's performance in the present economic crisis.

And, as usual, you're welcome to post any questions here in advance if you can't make it on the day.

Did MNHQ ask for answers in advance? perhaps they ought to have?

welll TBM .... I have reined myself in from asking nasty questions about H's personal life

girls do not worry

she will listen and learn

give me a break sister

snort

Herbie - I dont think typing skills should be a pre-requisite of a webchat - otherwise we'd have very few gusts AT ALL

Sunshine - I don't think we're getting an answer to "what about those of us in the middle? Those who tried the traditional route and found ourselves worse off...???"

Financially, it would've been better not to have gotten married last year (whilst pregnant, gone to university, and had my daughter - And I find that very sad.

And going back to my post before - yeah, a measly £450/month would keep me at home raising my daughter where I desperately want to be, but I'm off to work full-time and paying £685/month to the nursery for raising my daughter. How does that math work out???

And what scares me is that the guilt/stress of this will kick my SLE back into flare mode and I'll have to stop working because I'll be incapacitated. And unable to look after my daughter or myself.

SO Harriet - what's the government going to do about that? I don't see where you've provided me choices?

some questions have been here sice the 21st it seems

guests, even

well said maiakins and the only place you get multiple birth discount is clarks but you have to take the kids with you to prove it! It is very unfair that you dont get discount with childcare

Harriet, I have multiple sclerosis (poor hubby cares for me and dd) and I am typing. Its the only chance us disabled people ever get to question a minister. Usually they are to be found only in rarified atmospheres with good food and no riff-raff bothering them

don't Ministers have minions to type for them?
Do you thin you'll join Mumsnet after this harriet?

Cali,We have helped famililes - with more child benefit, increased maternity pay and leave and paid paternity leave. And loads of other things. i know we need to do more....and we will. But the truth is that it is men who are better off after divorce and women become worse off! And check out Tax Credits...you should not be worse off in work. You should be able to choose your shifts - with your valuable qualifications and experience. Are you in the RCN or in a union...they could take up your case for you. Its always in the interests of the service to keep experienced and qualified nurses.

My Mum was Secretary of the year 1968 bet she types even faster>>

Do you think the mner Harman will namechange now?

well time is up we would have been netter off getting answers amongst ourselves. well at least you turned up? btw ( are we related sister?

Harriet, please come and meet me (and other parents of disabled children) for a proper discussion. I'm in bristol.
Dave Cameron agreed.

Hello folks,
Yes we always start these threads early and send over advance questions but Harriet Harman, as you know is Deputy Prime Minister and yesterday was the Pre-Budget Report (quite a significant thing for this Government and the country) so she was probably just a tad busy. Obviously an hour isn't long to cover all the ground we'd like to cover, but it's better than nowt isn't it - and maybe if you're nice [ahem] she'll consider coming back one day! (Maybe a regular Mumsnet surgery?)

We do not qualify for Tax Credits. My husband is a higher rate tax payer(just)

My unit's shifts are 12.5 hours long - and they will not allow flexible working.

They prefer to lose experience staff, who they then replace with inexperienced staff as it is much cheaper to do so.

OOh yes Bristol is close to me also.

I am sure we would have lots of questions.

Would you have lots of answers?

Great to chat to you. will read all your comments and reflect on them. All the best. H

course you can. If MsHarman will agree. Course, its buggery cold here so we'd have to use the drop in centre for Disabled Children