Gordon Brown on Mumsnet this Friday (16th October) lunchtime between 1-2 pm

[JustineMumsnet]

We're delighted to announce that the Prime Minister, Gordon Brown, will be logging on to Mumsnet for a live webchat on Friday (tomorrow) lunchtime from 1 to 2. The PM is ready to answer Mumsnetters' questions on a wide-range of policy issues from the economy to education and from childcare to climate change.

As you know we're not great ones for rule books here at MNHQ, but we'd like this to be as useful and enlightening an event as it can be, for all involved. We aren't going to pre-moderate or pre-select questions - the format will be as per usual - but given the likely popularity of this webchat, the sheer number of you all and our past experience of trying to fit everything in, we've come up with a few ground rules which we'd be very grateful if you'd follow.

Guidelines for MN webchat with PM

1. To allow as many folks as possible to be involved, please restrict your questions to one per member plus a follow up question if appropriate, i.e. once you've had a response. (NB don't even think about name changing to ask another, we'll be watching!).

1. Please keep your question reasonably brief (we'll not doing a word count but it will increase your chance of getting an answer, we suspect, if you don't bang on for paragraphs)

1. It's highly unlikely he'll be able to answer everyone's question but we'll make every effort to bring common themes to his attention. Please don't be too disappointed if your specific question doesn't get answered and do try not to keep posting "What about me?". He can't answer them all and he is the PM after all - so has a quite few time constraints.

1. Obviously you're free to voice your opinion but do be civil/polite - the PM is our guest on Mumsnet so, whatever your politics, please afford him the same cordiality you would if he stopped by your own house.

Many thanks - feel free to put your question up in advance if you can't make the live chat on Friday lunchtime.

Why is your government trying to push through legislation regulating home education that is based on a review that was highly flawed in many ways, and motivated by the suspicion that some parents choose to home educate to hide child abuse and domestic servitude when there is no evidence whatsoever for this suspicion?

No other sector of parents are assumed guilty of child abuse until proven innocent, so why home educators?

I know I have had a question but DS1 (age 10) would like to know what you are going to do about bullying?

And DS2 (age 5) would like to know if he can have an Ben10 Alien Attack toy please?

Why do you and your wife not support British farmers, with reference to your wife lumping British Veal farmers who adhere to strict guidelines set down by the RSPCA in with the European Veal farmers who definitely don't.

So easy to confuse Gordon Brown with Father Christmas!

And having 2 vegetarians as Ministers looking after the farming community is not good.

I believe that you have had a "poisoned chalice" of an administration , picking up the flack for a number of Tony Blair's policies, however if you were to be returned to power at the next election what initiatives do you think you would " headline " for the benefit of families - particularly working families ?

Dear Gordon

Great to see you on here. Also GREAT to see you finally get rid of Tony Blair! If you'd only done it sooner I would definately have voted labour last time instead of...!

Q. While I can see huge developments have been made in the Early Years, we cannot expect intelligent, highly educated, 'thinking' and skilled people to remain in this enormously challenging role if they do not get a salary and level of recognition to match those of, for instance, school teachers.

How can Early Years workforce reform succeed without a suitable pay scale to support it!?

B

Oh, I oan't be here either but what a coup. Well done mn. Bet Sarah lurks.

Anyway, I like him. Must think of intelligent question.

Hi, I wasn't in the UK when Labor came to power in 1997, but there was such excitement about the (then) new government.

What happened to the big ideas? Where are they?

Is that 2 questions?

What happened to the big ideas, and where are they?

Does Gordon Brown really believe that pouring money into early years education is more worthwhile than helping mothers to stay at home and give their children the one on one attention that even exceptional nursery care can only come close to replicating?

So agree with bossykate's "i will say this - i am so, so glad it was gordon brown and alistair darling in charge last october and not david cameron and george osborne."

I read on the weekend, labour intend to stop the childcare voucher schemes offered by some employees. Is this true, or will it only affect new/potential members?

Why is it, when government is trying to promote the idea of 'Community' and 'Family', that there are no allowances made for grandparents providing childcare? If they are paid then the parents have to pay full costs as not eligible for the childcare element of Working Tax Credit; if they aren't then they are not only not receiving any income but they also need to find money to pay their own pension contributions. As a minimum they should be able to claim the Home Responsibility element of Child Benefit when both parents are working, so at least their pensions will be protected.

Thanks!

from my 6 year old daughter...

Dear Gordon brown
I don't like people who don't treat others as they would've liked to be treated. And I
don't like people who would like to kill other people in wars or make people go back to other countries.

Is it fun being a prime minister?

(I'm very sorry mumsnet if that is breaking a rule, I couldn't think of any it would be...)

Wow MN well done

I am also interested to know what is the future of sure start centres ?
Our local one is great and a real lifeline for many parents and children.

Please don't let them become another initiative / reinventing the wheel!! I have worked in many 'new initiatives' when funding has been withdrawn only to be replaced by the same thing.
If it works be proud !

Why are new mums who are on maternity leave from work given such low pay? I am a qualified teacher who has worked very hard and has just had a much longed for child. My beautiful baby was only 5 and half months old when I had to return to work, if I hadn't we would have lost everything. There are people sitting around on their backsides on the sick, claiming benefits and raking in the cash yet my maternity pay was a mere £400 per month - not even close to covering the mortgage, or the bills. Also why was I forced to take my maternity leave a month before my baby was born? Is there no compassion for married, working women who want to have children?

Dear Gordon,

What will a new Labour government do to promote and protect the human rights of all people in the UK?

Having introduced the Human Rights Act the government has made no attempt to promote it ? in particular to counter the misconceptions that surround it, including that it is a charter for terrorists and criminals.

Talk of a Bill of Rights ? when in essence we already have one (the HRA) ? and talk of ill-defined ?responsibilities? do little for human rights, rather they risk further undermining the HRA.

Establishing an Equalities and Human Rights Commission whilst failing to listen to the highly respected human rights scholars and activists it had appointed as Commissioners, and re-appointing an unpopular and ineffective Chair, thus forcing their resignations, makes the government?s commitment to and understanding of human rights in this country look shaky in the extreme.

So what will a Labour government do to genuinely promote and protect the human rights of all people in the UK?

Prime Minister,

There are many talented people who have fled the UK in search of a better life, leaving behind them a yobbish culture, expensive housing, high living costs, lack of employment, apparent squeezing of the middle classes, and bad weather (to name a few). I know you can't do much about the weather, but what can you do, to attract these expats and their talents home?

Hi Gordon

I have recently had to pay for a private group b strep test, this test came back positive and I was put onto antibiotics in labour. I was very lucky,many people are not. I am concerned however that this is not a standard test done through pregnancy, my midwife even tried to put me off having this done. Is the government going to do something about this?

Many thanks

Dear Gordon

I see a lot of questions here are about childcare. I think this government have made a huge difference in this area due to the free 15 hours at nursery for 3 yr olds (ds2 is just 3. I am very grateful).

However, I can't help thinking that some of the remaining problems mentioned here couldn't be solved if there were more childminders.

so my question is: would you consider asking ofsted to make the regulations for childminders less onerous? (this being why both our local 2 childminders have given up)

I would like to know why there is no help available, after a baby. I wanted to go back to college but because my partner is working no help.
I could only sign on for six months because my partner is working, again no help.

I have now gone self employed and there is no help in the form of grants out there.

If I was to become a single mum then there would be.

I have worked full time for 20 years it just isn't fair.

The electorate appear to be let down, detached and disillusioned by politics in general but also specifically the current government. I see and hear of many Labour loyalists who don't even feel that they can vote Labour in the next election.

Do you have anything up your sleeve to win the votes and hearts of the electorate back?

Dear Gordon

Whatever happens at the next election be assured there are some long term labout voters out here who will always love you.

Tony should have got out sooner and given you a tatste of the pie before the cream went sour.

I in no way blame you - or labour for the current climate. We all bought in to the credit boom - i wish folk would ride the storm and stop looking for someone to blame.

Thankyou labour for your amazing contribution to rebuilding our schools.

My main bug bear is 'dumbing down' in education. This needs to stop. Introduce more igcses and stop this coursework sham.

So Gordon - i heart you and have six kids being brought up to love you too x

Hi Gordon, I was really impressed by your speech at the Labour party conference, well done. My question is...

What will Labour do to help women break the glass ceiling at work?

Some background: I'm a higher rate tax payer working in the City, seen as a high flyer at work, but I want to be a great parent too! That for me means being present for my children and therefore not being able to take opportunities that take me away from home or full time hours. I've done well but my next move is to a Director role, I'm sure you can imagine the expectations that come with this sort of role in terms of hours. Hence, I think I will be stuck at this level = hello glass ceiling.